New polls suggest surprising Democratic gains in red-state Senate races

Amna Nawaz:

President Donald Trump heads to Ohio tonight to rally voters in a race that could determine control of the Senate.

Geoff Bennett:

And that stop follows dueling rallies in another key battleground state, Texas, that highlighted sharp divisions driving this year's midterms.

Our Liz Landers reports.

Liz Landers:

Last night, a political showdown in a usually deep red state, Trump and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico holding rallies just miles apart in Lubbock.

President Donald Trump:

And the other guy does not deserve it. He doesn't represent your values.

State Rep. James Talarico:

On November 3, we are going to do something extraordinary. We are going to do something historic.

Liz Landers:

The president mocking the Democrat with insults and a nickname.

President Donald Trump:

Seven days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Democrat communist James Talafreako.

Liz Landers:

Talarico using the timing of the dueling rallies and that nickname to fire up the crowd.

State Rep. James Talarico:

I know that we're not the only show in town tonight, and I appreciate all 4,000 of you that showed up here this evening.

(CHEERING)

State Rep. James Talarico:

That's a lot of Talafreakos in one room. So...

(CHEERING)

Ken Paxton:

Let's go win Texas.

Liz Landers:

Talarico's opponent, State Attorney General Ken Paxton, also taking swings.

Ken Paxton:

So let me tell you about the other guy. I think you've heard of him, James Talarico, the most radical Democrat to ever run in Texas history.

(BOOING)

Liz Landers:

All for a key seat in a state that is not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to retake the majority in the U.S. Senate.

Another state that captures the fault lines shaping this year's midterms, Pennsylvania. Just two years ago, the state was central to Trump's return to the White House, but now anxieties over the economy and corruption have crumbled support for Trump and the Republican base.

Linda Markle, Pennsylvania Voter:

The Republican Congress does not have a spine. They've abdicated their powers to one person, one person only. And that's not democracy.

Liz Landers:

But for others, the president and his party still have their support.

John Tim Betts, Pennsylvania Voter:

Probably President Trump. I mean, I'm sorry people don't like him, but I think he's doing more for us than anybody else has.

Liz Landers:

But how big is the battleground for Senate control? A new New York Times/Siena University poll shows Democrats may be making surprising gains, in reliably red South Carolina, Republican Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's seat, tied with Democrat Annie Andrews.

Darline Graham in South Carolina today:

Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC):

Nobody outworks South Carolinians. That's the formula, and it's working, and we're going to keep it going.

Liz Landers:

In North Carolina, where a Democrat hasn't been elected to the Senate in nearly 20 years, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley by double digits, centering his campaign on affordability.

Fmr. Gov. Roy Cooper:

And these tariffs are chaotic. They're not -- they're essentially a tax, folks. We need to overturn them. I will work to do that when I get to the United States Senate.

Liz Landers:

Also in North Carolina today, Vice President J.D. Vance making the case for Republicans.

J.D. Vance:

North Carolina, you send a message to Washington that we are sick of being ignored, we are sick of being left behind, and we are going to put America first for a change.

(CHEERING)

Liz Landers:

Both parties have less than one week left to make their closing arguments to voters.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.