The Trump administration unveiled new rules on Thursday to sharply limit migrant asylum claims by barring individuals who cross the US southern border illegally from seeking asylum.

Immigrant advocates denounced the move, saying it violated existing US law that allows people fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries to apply for asylum regardless of whether they enter illegally or not.

The regulations released on Thursday, in conjunction with an order expected to be signed by President Donald Trump, would effectively ban migrants who cross the US border with Mexico illegally from qualifying for asylum.

Once the plan goes into full effect, migrants entering at the US southern border would only be eligible for asylum if they report at official ports of entry, officials said.

"What we are attempting to do is trying to funnel ... asylum claims through the ports of entry where we are better resourced, have better capabilities and better manpower and staffing to actually handle those claims in an expeditious and efficient manner," a senior administration official told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday, on condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration has already made it more difficult for migrants to qualify for asylum in the United States. Administration officials have said existing US asylum rules encourage illegal immigration and bog down legitimate claims.

In June, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued an appellate decision that sharply narrowed the circumstances under which immigrants can use violence at home as grounds for US asylum.&nbsp;

Sessions, who resigned at Trump`s request this week, also instructed immigration judges and asylum officers to view illegal border-crossing as a "serious adverse factor" in deciding a case and to consider whether applicants could have escaped danger by relocating within their own countries.

Trump made his hard-line policies toward immigration a key issue ahead of Tuesday`s midterm elections, sending thousands of US troops to help secure the southern border and repeatedly drawing attention to a caravan of Central American migrants trekking through Mexico toward the United States.

Currently, US asylum rules do not bar people who enter the country without authorization, and the Immigration and Nationality Act, which governs the US immigration system, specifically allows people who arrive in the United States, whether or not they do so at a designated port of entry, to apply for asylum.

The administration`s plan, which invokes the same authority Trump used to justify his travel ban on citizens of several Muslim-majority nations, is likely to be quickly challenged in court.

The move would largely affect migrants from Central America`s Northern Triangle - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - who cross the US border with Mexico to flee violence and poverty in their home countries.

"The vast majority of aliens who enter illegally today come from the Northern Triangle countries," the regulation`s text says. "Channelling those aliens to ports of entry would encourage these aliens to first avail themselves of offers of asylum from Mexico."&nbsp;

Immigrant advocates denounced the administration`s move as unlawful, and said the plan to funnel migrants to ports of entry was just a way to cut asylum claims overall.

"Congress has directly spoken to this question as to whether individuals can be rendered ineligible for asylum if they cross between ports of entry and has specifically said people are eligible regardless of where they cross," said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union.

"Ports of entry ... are overcrowded," said Jonathan Ryan, executive director of RAICES, a Texas-based immigrant defence group. "Asylum-seekers have been left to camp out for days and weeks on bridges at the border, when they should be guaranteed a right to enter the country for a fair hearing."

The Trump administration unveiled new rules on Thursday to sharply limit migrant asylum claims by barring individuals who cross the US southern border illegally from seeking asylum.

The Trump administration unveiled new rules on Thursday to sharply limit migrant asylum claims by barring individuals who cross the US southern border illegally from seeking asylum. Immigrant advocates denounced the move, saying it violated existing US law that allows people fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries to apply for asylum regardless of whether they enter illegally or not. The regulations released on Thursday, in conjunction with an order expected to be signed by President Donald Trump, would effectively ban migrants who cross the US border with Mexico illegally from qualifying for asylum. Once the plan goes into full effect, migrants entering at the US southern border would only be eligible for asylum if they report at official ports of entry, officials said. "What we are attempting to do is trying to funnel ... asylum claims through the ports of entry where we are better resourced, have better capabilities and better manpower and staffing to actually handle those claims in an expeditious and efficient manner," a senior administration official told reporters in a news briefing on Thursday, on condition of anonymity. The Trump administration has already made it more difficult for migrants to qualify for asylum in the United States. Administration officials have said existing US asylum rules encourage illegal immigration and bog down legitimate claims. In June, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued an appellate decision that sharply narrowed the circumstances under which immigrants can use violence at home as grounds for US asylum. Sessions, who resigned at Trump`s request this week, also instructed immigration judges and asylum officers to view illegal border-crossing as a "serious adverse factor" in deciding a case and to consider whether applicants could have escaped danger by relocating within their own countries. Trump made his hard-line policies toward immigration a key issue ahead of Tuesday`s midterm elections, sending thousands of US troops to help secure the southern border and repeatedly drawing attention to a caravan of Central American migrants trekking through Mexico toward the United States. Currently, US asylum rules do not bar people who enter the country without authorization, and the Immigration and Nationality Act, which governs the US immigration system, specifically allows people who arrive in the United States, whether or not they do so at a designated port of entry, to apply for asylum. The administration`s plan, which invokes the same authority Trump used to justify his travel ban on citizens of several Muslim-majority nations, is likely to be quickly challenged in court. The move would largely affect migrants from Central America`s Northern Triangle - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - who cross the US border with Mexico to flee violence and poverty in their home countries. "The vast majority of aliens who enter illegally today come from the Northern Triangle countries," the regulation`s text says. "Channelling those aliens to ports of entry would encourage these aliens to first avail themselves of offers of asylum from Mexico." Immigrant advocates denounced the administration`s move as unlawful, and said the plan to funnel migrants to ports of entry was just a way to cut asylum claims overall. "Congress has directly spoken to this question as to whether individuals can be rendered ineligible for asylum if they cross between ports of entry and has specifically said people are eligible regardless of where they cross," said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. "Ports of entry ... are overcrowded," said Jonathan Ryan, executive director of RAICES, a Texas-based immigrant defence group. "Asylum-seekers have been left to camp out for days and weeks on bridges at the border, when they should be guaranteed a right to enter the country for a fair hearing."

Trump administration moves to curb migrants' asylum claims

The Trump administration has assured lawmakers and the American corporate sector that the public would get an opportunity to respond to its proposal of revoking work authorisation to H-4 spouse visas after they raised their concerns over the move, which will impact thousands of Indians.&nbsp;

H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B foreign workers. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa through which many Indians workers are employed in US companies. It allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It is the most sought-after visa among Indian IT professionals.

H-4 visas are issued only to very close or immediate family members of the H-1B visa holders. It includes the employee's spouse and children less than 21 years of age.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had said that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will come out with a new proposal by January 2019 under which it is mulling to remove from its regulations certain H-4 spouses of H-1B non-immigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorisation.

The new rules could impact up to 70,000 H-4 Visa holders who have work permits.

The USCIS has recently written a near identical letters to top US lawmakers and leaders of the corporate sector who had raised concern over the Trump administration's proposal to revoke the H-4 visas.&nbsp;

"The public will be given an opportunity to provide feedback during a notice and comment period on any proposed revisions to regulations providing employment authorisation to certain H-4 non-immigrants," L Francis Cissna, USCIS director, wrote to senators Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand in a letter dated October 16, which was posted on the organisation's website this month.

The two lawmakers had urged not to revoke work authorisation to H-4 visas.

However, the letter makes no commitment on the fate of the decision to revoke the work authorisation to H-4 visas, except for saying that the DHS is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system and protecting the wages and job opportunities for US workers.

In a letter dated September 26 and addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson, Harris and Gillibrand had said the administration's proposal to revoke the employment authorisation of certain H-4 dependent spouses of non-immigrant H-1B workers would permanently force approximately 1,00,000 predominantly high-skilled women to abandon their professional careers.&nbsp;

"This will harm the wellbeing of these women and their families and have negative consequences for American communities where they live and work," they had said.

In another letter dated July 23 and addressed to the DHS, as many as 34 US legislators had expressed concern that revoking work authorisation to H-4 visas would "create significant uncertainty and financial hardship for many highly skilled professionals who are vital to US economy".&nbsp;

A group of top corporate leaders had expressed similar concerns to the DHS in a letter dated August 22.&nbsp;

The H-4 spouses are "often highly skilled" and have built careers and lives around their ability to "contribute to companies here", they said.&nbsp;

"Other countries allow these valuable professionals to work, so revoking their US work authorisation will likely cause high-skilled immigrants to take their skills to competitors outside the US," stated the letter, which among others was signed by Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems; Roger K Newport from AK Steel Corporation; Doug Parker of American Airlines and Stephen Squeri of American Express.

The USCIS director also sent them similar responses as given to the lawmakers.&nbsp;

The Trump administration has assured lawmakers and the American corporate sector that the public would get an opportunity to respond to its proposal of revoking work authorisation to H-4 spouse visas after they raised their concerns over the move, which will impact thousands of Indians.

The Trump administration has assured lawmakers and the American corporate sector that the public would get an opportunity to respond to its proposal of revoking work authorisation to H-4 spouse visas after they raised their concerns over the move, which will impact thousands of Indians. H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B foreign workers. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa through which many Indians workers are employed in US companies. It allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It is the most sought-after visa among Indian IT professionals. H-4 visas are issued only to very close or immediate family members of the H-1B visa holders. It includes the employee's spouse and children less than 21 years of age. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had said that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will come out with a new proposal by January 2019 under which it is mulling to remove from its regulations certain H-4 spouses of H-1B non-immigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorisation. The new rules could impact up to 70,000 H-4 Visa holders who have work permits. The USCIS has recently written a near identical letters to top US lawmakers and leaders of the corporate sector who had raised concern over the Trump administration's proposal to revoke the H-4 visas. "The public will be given an opportunity to provide feedback during a notice and comment period on any proposed revisions to regulations providing employment authorisation to certain H-4 non-immigrants," L Francis Cissna, USCIS director, wrote to senators Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand in a letter dated October 16, which was posted on the organisation's website this month. The two lawmakers had urged not to revoke work authorisation to H-4 visas. However, the letter makes no commitment on the fate of the decision to revoke the work authorisation to H-4 visas, except for saying that the DHS is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system and protecting the wages and job opportunities for US workers. In a letter dated September 26 and addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson, Harris and Gillibrand had said the administration's proposal to revoke the employment authorisation of certain H-4 dependent spouses of non-immigrant H-1B workers would permanently force approximately 1,00,000 predominantly high-skilled women to abandon their professional careers. "This will harm the wellbeing of these women and their families and have negative consequences for American communities where they live and work," they had said. In another letter dated July 23 and addressed to the DHS, as many as 34 US legislators had expressed concern that revoking work authorisation to H-4 visas would "create significant uncertainty and financial hardship for many highly skilled professionals who are vital to US economy". A group of top corporate leaders had expressed similar concerns to the DHS in a letter dated August 22. The H-4 spouses are "often highly skilled" and have built careers and lives around their ability to "contribute to companies here", they said. "Other countries allow these valuable professionals to work, so revoking their US work authorisation will likely cause high-skilled immigrants to take their skills to competitors outside the US," stated the letter, which among others was signed by Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems; Roger K Newport from AK Steel Corporation; Doug Parker of American Airlines and Stephen Squeri of American Express. The USCIS director also sent them similar responses as given to the lawmakers.

Will take public opinion on H-4 visa revocation proposal: Trump administration 

Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released from jail at the request of the US as part of efforts to pursue a political settlement in war-torn Afghanistan.

"Baradar was released to provide impetus to the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to pursue reconciliatory efforts to expedite and facilitate the process to our fullest ability," said Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal.

Baradar's release was facilitated by Pakistan at the US request in order to move forward on the shared objective of pursuing a political settlement in Afghanistan, he said.

The Taliban leader was in custody for the last many years after his capture by Pakistani authorities in a search operation.

"This decision was taken following the visit of the US Special Envoy on Afghan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to the region and his meetings with Taliban representatives in Doha," Faisal said.

In recent months, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Pakistan to limit the freedom of Taliban leaders, forcing them to join Afghan peace talks.

Last month, senior American diplomat Khalilzad, tasked with helping find a way to end the war in Afghanistan, met with Taliban representatives in Qatar.

Baradar, one of the four top commanders who formed the Afghan Taliban in 1994, was captured by Pakistani security agencies in Karachi in 2010.

He was finally released from jail on the solicitation of the government of Qatar, a Pakistani media report said last month.

Baradar, who is in his 50s, is believed to be the highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner freed so far.

He had held several senior positions in Afghanistan's Taliban government before its fall in 2001. He was once considered the most influential Taliban leader after Mullah Muhammad Omar.

Born in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, Baradar fought in the war to expel Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s. When the Taliban came to power in 1996, Baradar became deputy defence minister.

After the Taliban regime was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, hundreds of Taliban hardliners fled over the border to Pakistan. Baradar was among them.

Recently, a high-level delegation from Qatar also visited Islamabad and met the senior Pakistani leadership, the report said.

It did not give any details of Baradar's whereabouts after his release. It was also not clear whether he was handed over to Afghanistan or stayed in Pakistan.

It was reported a few times that Baradar had been released in Pakistan to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban but he could not be freed due to unacceptable conditions imposed by the Afghanistan government, the report said.

Faisal said Pakistan has always been emphasising the need for seeking a negotiated settlement of the Afghan issue with the participation of all stakeholders.

Responding to a question about the proposed peace talks in Moscow on Afghan peace efforts, the spokesperson said a Pakistani delegation led by an additional secretary will attend the dialogue.

He said a trilateral meeting of Pak-China-Afghan foreign ministers will be held in Kabul. "We expect that the meeting can be a step towards lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said.

He also said it was a matter of concern that a recent American report had pointed out that the Afghan administration and foreign military forces are losing control over the security situation in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released from jail at the request of the US as part of efforts to pursue a political settlement in war-torn Afghanistan.

Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghan Taliban's former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released from jail at the request of the US as part of efforts to pursue a political settlement in war-torn Afghanistan. "Baradar was released to provide impetus to the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to pursue reconciliatory efforts to expedite and facilitate the process to our fullest ability," said Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal. Baradar's release was facilitated by Pakistan at the US request in order to move forward on the shared objective of pursuing a political settlement in Afghanistan, he said. The Taliban leader was in custody for the last many years after his capture by Pakistani authorities in a search operation. "This decision was taken following the visit of the US Special Envoy on Afghan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to the region and his meetings with Taliban representatives in Doha," Faisal said. In recent months, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Pakistan to limit the freedom of Taliban leaders, forcing them to join Afghan peace talks. Last month, senior American diplomat Khalilzad, tasked with helping find a way to end the war in Afghanistan, met with Taliban representatives in Qatar. Baradar, one of the four top commanders who formed the Afghan Taliban in 1994, was captured by Pakistani security agencies in Karachi in 2010. He was finally released from jail on the solicitation of the government of Qatar, a Pakistani media report said last month. Baradar, who is in his 50s, is believed to be the highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner freed so far. He had held several senior positions in Afghanistan's Taliban government before its fall in 2001. He was once considered the most influential Taliban leader after Mullah Muhammad Omar. Born in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, Baradar fought in the war to expel Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s. When the Taliban came to power in 1996, Baradar became deputy defence minister. After the Taliban regime was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, hundreds of Taliban hardliners fled over the border to Pakistan. Baradar was among them. Recently, a high-level delegation from Qatar also visited Islamabad and met the senior Pakistani leadership, the report said. It did not give any details of Baradar's whereabouts after his release. It was also not clear whether he was handed over to Afghanistan or stayed in Pakistan. It was reported a few times that Baradar had been released in Pakistan to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban but he could not be freed due to unacceptable conditions imposed by the Afghanistan government, the report said. Faisal said Pakistan has always been emphasising the need for seeking a negotiated settlement of the Afghan issue with the participation of all stakeholders. Responding to a question about the proposed peace talks in Moscow on Afghan peace efforts, the spokesperson said a Pakistani delegation led by an additional secretary will attend the dialogue. He said a trilateral meeting of Pak-China-Afghan foreign ministers will be held in Kabul. "We expect that the meeting can be a step towards lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said. He also said it was a matter of concern that a recent American report had pointed out that the Afghan administration and foreign military forces are losing control over the security situation in Afghanistan.

Taliban leader Baradar released at US request for political settlement in Afghanistan: Pak 

President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-faces-a-blitz-of-investigations-from-democratic-run-house-176101">launches probes into his administration</a>.

Sessions - an early Trump supporter who ran afoul of the president by recusing himself from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 White House campaign - said in a letter to Trump that he had submitted his resignation "at your request."

The 71-year-old former US senator was informed on Wednesday morning by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly in a phone call that it was time to go, said an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Sessions' departure was the first in what could be a string of high-profile exits as Trump reshapes his team to gird for his own 2020 re-election effort. The Republican president named Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, as acting attorney general and said he would nominate someone for the job soon.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was visiting the White House on Wednesday afternoon for what was described by an administration official as a regularly scheduled meeting.

Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader who could be the next speaker, called Sessions' ouster a "blatant attempt" to undermine the Russia probe and urged Whitaker to recuse himself from any involvement in a statement posted to Twitter.

During a combative news conference in which he tangled with reporters, Trump trumpeted his role in Republican gains in Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, and warned of a "warlike posture" in Washington if Democrats investigated him.

Democrats will now head House committees that can probe the president's tax returns, which he has refused to turn over since he was a candidate, possible business conflicts of interest and any links between his 2016 campaign and Russia, a matter being investigated by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller is overseen by Rosenstein, who reports to Sessions.

Trump said he could fire Mueller if he wanted but was hesitant to take that step. "I could fire everybody right now, but I don't want to stop it, because politically I don't like stopping it," he said.

Moscow denies meddling. Trump, calling the Mueller probe a witch hunt, has repeatedly said there was no collusion.

Trump was buoyed on Wednesday by victories that added to the Republican majority in the US Senate, telling reporters at the White House that the gains outweighed the Democrats' takeover of the House. He added that he was willing to work with Democrats on key priorities but felt any House investigations of his administration would hurt prospects for bipartisanship.

"They can play that game, but we can play it better," Trump said of the possibility of Democratic investigations. "All you're going to do is end up in back and forth and back and forth, and two years is going to go up and we won't have done a thing."

The divided power in Congress combined with Trump's expansive view of executive power could herald even deeper political polarization and legislative gridlock in Washington.

There may be some room, however, for Trump and Democrats to work together on issues with bipartisan support such as a package to improve infrastructure, protections against prescription drug price increases and in the push to rebalance trade with China.

"It really could be a beautiful bipartisan situation," Trump said.

He said Pelosi had expressed to him in a phone call a desire to work together. With Democrats mulling whether to stick with Pelosi, who was speaker when the party last controlled the House, or go in a new direction, Trump wrote in a tweet earlier that she deserves to be chosen for the position.

Pelosi, at a Capitol Hill news conference before news of Sessions' firing, said Democrats would be willing to work with Trump where possible. But she added, "We have a constitutional responsibility to have oversight."

"I don't think we'll have any scattershot freelancing in terms of this. We will have a responsibility to honour our oversight responsibilities and that's the path we will go down. We again (will) try to unify our country," she said.

The Democrats fell short of a tidal wave of voter support that would have won them control of both chambers of Congress. But in the 435-member House, the party was headed for a gain of around 30 seats, beyond the 23 they needed to claim their first majority in eight years.

A Senate majority would have allowed Democrats to apply even firmer brakes on Trump's policy agenda and given them the ability to block any future Supreme Court nominees.

House Democrats could force Trump to scale back his legislative ambitions, possibly dooming his promises to fund a border wall with Mexico and pass a second major tax-cut package. Legislators could also demand more transparency from Trump as he negotiates new trade deals with Japan and the European Union.

"Today is more than about Democrats and Republicans; it's about restoring the Constitution's checks and balances to the Trump administration," Pelosi told supporters at a victory party Tuesday night.

Trump also mocked Republican candidates who had refused to back his policies and ultimately lost their races, such as US Representative Barbara Comstock of Virginia.

"They did very poorly. I'm not sure that I should be happy or sad but I feel just fine about it," he said.

Gridlock?

US stocks jumped on Wednesday as investors, who often favour Washington gridlock because it preserves the status quo and reduces uncertainty, bought back into a market that had its worst month in seven years in October.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended Wednesday up 2.13 per cent, while the broad-based S&amp;P 500 index rose 2.12 per cent. The dollar index, a measure of the greenback against a basket of currencies, was slightly weaker.

A Democrat-controlled House could hamper Trump's attempts to further his pro-business agenda, fuelling uncertainty about his administration. His corporate tax cuts and the deregulation that have played a large hand in the US stock market's rally since the 2016 election, however, are likely to remain untouched.

"With the Democrats taking over the House, we will now have to see what gridlock in Congress means for policy. As for the market impact, a split Congress has historically been bullish for equities and we expect to see the same pattern again," said Torsten Slok, chief international economist for Deutsche Bank.

Democrats will use their new majority to reverse what they see as a hands-off approach by Republicans toward Trump's foreign policy, and push for tougher dealings with Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.

Foreign policy has been an area that Trump has approached in a very personal way, sometimes antagonizing allies such as Canada while making what critics see as unduly warm overtures to traditional US rivals or foes.

Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Democrats could work with Republicans to produce a long-awaited bill to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges and airports.

"Of course, we want to work in a bipartisan fashion. I think we can get an infrastructure bill," he said.

Trump had hardened his rhetoric in recent weeks on issues that appealed to his conservative core supporters. He threw himself into the campaign, issuing warnings about a caravan of Latin American migrants headed through Mexico to the US&nbsp;border and condemnations of liberal American "mobs" he says oppose him.

Democratic probes

Every seat in the House was up for grabs on Tuesday and opinion polls had pointed to the Democratic gains. The party with the presidency often loses House seats in midterm elections.

The Republicans had an advantage in Senate races because elections were held for only 35 seats in the 100-member chamber and many of them were in states that often lean Republican.

Republicans built on their slim Senate majority by several seats and ousted at least three incumbent Democrats: Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri.

In Florida, Democratic Senator Bill Nelson was trailing his Republican rival, Governor Rick Scott, by a slim margin, with the possibility of a recount looming. Republican Martha McSally was leading Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in the US Senate race in Arizona with some votes still to be counted.

The Republican gains are sure to bolster the party's efforts to get conservative federal judges through confirmation proceedings. In the 36 gubernatorial contests, Democrats won in several states that supported Trump in 2016 but lost high-profile races in Florida and Ohio.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority launches probes into his administration.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions a day after congressional elections, and vowed to fight if the US House of Representatives' new Democratic majority launches probes into his administration. Sessions - an early Trump supporter who ran afoul of the president by recusing himself from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 White House campaign - said in a letter to Trump that he had submitted his resignation "at your request." The 71-year-old former US senator was informed on Wednesday morning by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly in a phone call that it was time to go, said an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. Sessions' departure was the first in what could be a string of high-profile exits as Trump reshapes his team to gird for his own 2020 re-election effort. The Republican president named Sessions' chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, as acting attorney general and said he would nominate someone for the job soon. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was visiting the White House on Wednesday afternoon for what was described by an administration official as a regularly scheduled meeting. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader who could be the next speaker, called Sessions' ouster a "blatant attempt" to undermine the Russia probe and urged Whitaker to recuse himself from any involvement in a statement posted to Twitter. During a combative news conference in which he tangled with reporters, Trump trumpeted his role in Republican gains in Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, and warned of a "warlike posture" in Washington if Democrats investigated him. Democrats will now head House committees that can probe the president's tax returns, which he has refused to turn over since he was a candidate, possible business conflicts of interest and any links between his 2016 campaign and Russia, a matter being investigated by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller is overseen by Rosenstein, who reports to Sessions. Trump said he could fire Mueller if he wanted but was hesitant to take that step. "I could fire everybody right now, but I don't want to stop it, because politically I don't like stopping it," he said. Moscow denies meddling. Trump, calling the Mueller probe a witch hunt, has repeatedly said there was no collusion. Trump was buoyed on Wednesday by victories that added to the Republican majority in the US Senate, telling reporters at the White House that the gains outweighed the Democrats' takeover of the House. He added that he was willing to work with Democrats on key priorities but felt any House investigations of his administration would hurt prospects for bipartisanship. "They can play that game, but we can play it better," Trump said of the possibility of Democratic investigations. "All you're going to do is end up in back and forth and back and forth, and two years is going to go up and we won't have done a thing." The divided power in Congress combined with Trump's expansive view of executive power could herald even deeper political polarization and legislative gridlock in Washington. There may be some room, however, for Trump and Democrats to work together on issues with bipartisan support such as a package to improve infrastructure, protections against prescription drug price increases and in the push to rebalance trade with China. "It really could be a beautiful bipartisan situation," Trump said. He said Pelosi had expressed to him in a phone call a desire to work together. With Democrats mulling whether to stick with Pelosi, who was speaker when the party last controlled the House, or go in a new direction, Trump wrote in a tweet earlier that she deserves to be chosen for the position. Pelosi, at a Capitol Hill news conference before news of Sessions' firing, said Democrats would be willing to work with Trump where possible. But she added, "We have a constitutional responsibility to have oversight." "I don't think we'll have any scattershot freelancing in terms of this. We will have a responsibility to honour our oversight responsibilities and that's the path we will go down. We again (will) try to unify our country," she said. The Democrats fell short of a tidal wave of voter support that would have won them control of both chambers of Congress. But in the 435-member House, the party was headed for a gain of around 30 seats, beyond the 23 they needed to claim their first majority in eight years. A Senate majority would have allowed Democrats to apply even firmer brakes on Trump's policy agenda and given them the ability to block any future Supreme Court nominees. House Democrats could force Trump to scale back his legislative ambitions, possibly dooming his promises to fund a border wall with Mexico and pass a second major tax-cut package. Legislators could also demand more transparency from Trump as he negotiates new trade deals with Japan and the European Union. "Today is more than about Democrats and Republicans; it's about restoring the Constitution's checks and balances to the Trump administration," Pelosi told supporters at a victory party Tuesday night. Trump also mocked Republican candidates who had refused to back his policies and ultimately lost their races, such as US Representative Barbara Comstock of Virginia. "They did very poorly. I'm not sure that I should be happy or sad but I feel just fine about it," he said. Gridlock? US stocks jumped on Wednesday as investors, who often favour Washington gridlock because it preserves the status quo and reduces uncertainty, bought back into a market that had its worst month in seven years in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended Wednesday up 2.13 per cent, while the broad-based S&P 500 index rose 2.12 per cent. The dollar index, a measure of the greenback against a basket of currencies, was slightly weaker. A Democrat-controlled House could hamper Trump's attempts to further his pro-business agenda, fuelling uncertainty about his administration. His corporate tax cuts and the deregulation that have played a large hand in the US stock market's rally since the 2016 election, however, are likely to remain untouched. "With the Democrats taking over the House, we will now have to see what gridlock in Congress means for policy. As for the market impact, a split Congress has historically been bullish for equities and we expect to see the same pattern again," said Torsten Slok, chief international economist for Deutsche Bank. Democrats will use their new majority to reverse what they see as a hands-off approach by Republicans toward Trump's foreign policy, and push for tougher dealings with Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. Foreign policy has been an area that Trump has approached in a very personal way, sometimes antagonizing allies such as Canada while making what critics see as unduly warm overtures to traditional US rivals or foes. Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Democrats could work with Republicans to produce a long-awaited bill to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges and airports. "Of course, we want to work in a bipartisan fashion. I think we can get an infrastructure bill," he said. Trump had hardened his rhetoric in recent weeks on issues that appealed to his conservative core supporters. He threw himself into the campaign, issuing warnings about a caravan of Latin American migrants headed through Mexico to the US border and condemnations of liberal American "mobs" he says oppose him. Democratic probes Every seat in the House was up for grabs on Tuesday and opinion polls had pointed to the Democratic gains. The party with the presidency often loses House seats in midterm elections. The Republicans had an advantage in Senate races because elections were held for only 35 seats in the 100-member chamber and many of them were in states that often lean Republican. Republicans built on their slim Senate majority by several seats and ousted at least three incumbent Democrats: Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri. In Florida, Democratic Senator Bill Nelson was trailing his Republican rival, Governor Rick Scott, by a slim margin, with the possibility of a recount looming. Republican Martha McSally was leading Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in the US Senate race in Arizona with some votes still to be counted. The Republican gains are sure to bolster the party's efforts to get conservative federal judges through confirmation proceedings. In the 36 gubernatorial contests, Democrats won in several states that supported Trump in 2016 but lost high-profile races in Florida and Ohio.

Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions, vows to fight Democrats if they launch probes

The US midterm elections on Tuesday will bring a range of fresh faces to Washington, from the vice president's brother to the youngest-ever woman in Congress.

Here is a look at some of the most prominent of the new legislators:

Young left-wing star&nbsp;

At 29, staunch left-winger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and one of the youngest members ever.

Until recently making ends meet as a bartender, Ocasio-Cortez scored an upset in a Democratic primary in New York City to defeat 10-term member Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful members of the party.

She easily won Tuesday against a Republican in the heavily Democratic and ethnically diverse district straddling Queens and The Bronx.

A supporter of leftist Senator Bernie Sanders -- who won his own re-election bid Tuesday -- Ocasio-Cortez has quickly become a national voice with her calls for a universal health care system, tuition-free public universities and the abolition of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has executed President Donald Trump's campaign to deport undocumented immigrants.

Face of change in Boston&nbsp;

Ayanna Pressley, 44, on Tuesday became the first African American woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, representing much of the same area as John F. Kennedy.

In a story with parallels to Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley defeated a 10-term male incumbent, Mike Capuano, in the Democratic primary for a left-leaning district that includes much of Boston and Harvard University.

Like Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley cast her election as part of a need for better representation in the era of the #MeToo movement.

When she won the primary, she denounced President Donald Trump as "a racist, misogynistic, truly empathy-bankrupt man."

Vice presidential brother&nbsp;

Politics has become a family affair for Vice President Mike Pence, with his brother Greg elected to his former congressional seat in Indiana.

The vice president took to Twitter to congratulate his brother, who easily won the solidly Republican and heavily white district in the Midwestern state.

The elder Pence has little political experience but touted his family ties and his business record.

Pence headed a chain of fuel suppliers and convenience stores under the name Tobacco Road -- which went bankrupt after facing claims worth $100 million.

First Muslim women&nbsp;

For the first time, the US Congress will have Muslim women -- and two of them.

Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee, won a House seat in a heavily Democratic district in Minneapolis, where she will succeed Keith Ellison, himself the first Muslim elected to Congress.

Rashida Tlaib, a social worker born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents, won a House seat in a district where she ran unopposed by a Republican candidate.&nbsp;

Tlaib has vehemently opposed Trump -- even heckling the then-candidate during a 2016 campaign appearance in Detroit.&nbsp;

"I didn't run because my election would be historic. I ran because of injustices and because of my boys, who are questioning their identity and whether they belong," Tlaib told ABC News in August.

First Native American woman&nbsp;

Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids became the first Native American woman elected to Congress, defeating Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder.

Davids, 38, is an attorney by training and a former mixed martial arts fighter. She is also openly lesbian, in a state that is traditionally conservative.

Davids -- who was raised by a single mother Army veteran -- won a district that includes Kansas City and its southern suburbs.

She wore a T-shirt in her campaign advertisements that read, "Strong, Resilient, Indigenous."

The US midterm elections on Tuesday will bring a range of fresh faces to Washington, from the vice president's brother to the youngest-ever woman in Congress. Here is a look at some of the most prominent of the new legislators: Young left-wing star At 29, staunch left-winger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and one of the youngest members ever.

The US midterm elections on Tuesday will bring a range of fresh faces to Washington, from the vice president's brother to the youngest-ever woman in Congress. Here is a look at some of the most prominent of the new legislators: Young left-wing star At 29, staunch left-winger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and one of the youngest members ever. Until recently making ends meet as a bartender, Ocasio-Cortez scored an upset in a Democratic primary in New York City to defeat 10-term member Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful members of the party. She easily won Tuesday against a Republican in the heavily Democratic and ethnically diverse district straddling Queens and The Bronx. A supporter of leftist Senator Bernie Sanders -- who won his own re-election bid Tuesday -- Ocasio-Cortez has quickly become a national voice with her calls for a universal health care system, tuition-free public universities and the abolition of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has executed President Donald Trump's campaign to deport undocumented immigrants. Face of change in Boston Ayanna Pressley, 44, on Tuesday became the first African American woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, representing much of the same area as John F. Kennedy. In a story with parallels to Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley defeated a 10-term male incumbent, Mike Capuano, in the Democratic primary for a left-leaning district that includes much of Boston and Harvard University. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley cast her election as part of a need for better representation in the era of the #MeToo movement. When she won the primary, she denounced President Donald Trump as "a racist, misogynistic, truly empathy-bankrupt man." Vice presidential brother Politics has become a family affair for Vice President Mike Pence, with his brother Greg elected to his former congressional seat in Indiana. The vice president took to Twitter to congratulate his brother, who easily won the solidly Republican and heavily white district in the Midwestern state. The elder Pence has little political experience but touted his family ties and his business record. Pence headed a chain of fuel suppliers and convenience stores under the name Tobacco Road -- which went bankrupt after facing claims worth $100 million. First Muslim women For the first time, the US Congress will have Muslim women -- and two of them. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee, won a House seat in a heavily Democratic district in Minneapolis, where she will succeed Keith Ellison, himself the first Muslim elected to Congress. Rashida Tlaib, a social worker born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents, won a House seat in a district where she ran unopposed by a Republican candidate. Tlaib has vehemently opposed Trump -- even heckling the then-candidate during a 2016 campaign appearance in Detroit. "I didn't run because my election would be historic. I ran because of injustices and because of my boys, who are questioning their identity and whether they belong," Tlaib told ABC News in August. First Native American woman Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids became the first Native American woman elected to Congress, defeating Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder. Davids, 38, is an attorney by training and a former mixed martial arts fighter. She is also openly lesbian, in a state that is traditionally conservative. Davids -- who was raised by a single mother Army veteran -- won a district that includes Kansas City and its southern suburbs. She wore a T-shirt in her campaign advertisements that read, "Strong, Resilient, Indigenous."

Young progressives, VP brother to enter US Congress

President Donald Trump called Tuesday's midterm congressional elections a "tremendous success," despite his Republican Party losing control of the House of Representatives.

The Republicans held on to the Senate and narrowly survived a number of big individual races, including in Florida. The Democrats now control the lower house for the first time in eight years.

"Tremendous success tonight," the president tweeted. "Thank you to all!"

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Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1060022696703070208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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US networks projected Wednesday that the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-democrats-scent-victory-over-trumps-republicans-in-congress-175944">Democrats would take the House</a>&nbsp;of Representatives or Congress while Trump's Republicans would keep control of the Senate.&nbsp;

The US midterm elections — in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, and 36 governorships&nbsp;were up for grabs — are being seen as a referendum on Trump's unconventional presidency.&nbsp;

American voters poured out across their bitterly divided country Tuesday to deliver judgment on Donald Trump in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-us-midterm-polls-how-they-work-and-what-is-at-stakes-175277">midterm polls</a>&nbsp;where opposition Democrats hope to seize at least partial control of Congress.

President Donald Trump called Tuesday's midterm congressional elections a "tremendous success," despite his Republican Party losing control of the House of Representatives.

President Donald Trump called Tuesday's midterm congressional elections a "tremendous success," despite his Republican Party losing control of the House of Representatives. The Republicans held on to the Senate and narrowly survived a number of big individual races, including in Florida. The Democrats now control the lower house for the first time in eight years. "Tremendous success tonight," the president tweeted. "Thank you to all!" Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018 × US networks projected Wednesday that the Democrats would take the House of Representatives or Congress while Trump's Republicans would keep control of the Senate. The US midterm elections — in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, and 36 governorships were up for grabs — are being seen as a referendum on Trump's unconventional presidency. American voters poured out across their bitterly divided country Tuesday to deliver judgment on Donald Trump in midterm polls where opposition Democrats hope to seize at least partial control of Congress.

Trump calls midterm elections a 'tremendous success'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-democrats-scent-victory-over-trumps-republicans-in-congress-175944">US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress</a>

Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-snatch-first-congress-seats-from-republicans-in-us-midterms-175929">Democrats snatch first Congress seats from Republicans in US midterms</a>

Democrats seized their first two Republican-held seats of the US midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping House seats in Virginia and Florida seen as crucial to the opposition party's effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-exempts-indian-backed-chabahar-port-in-iran-from-sanctions-175922">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-exempts-indian-backed-chabahar-port-in-iran-from-sanctions-175922"> exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions</a>

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vice-president-mike-pences-brother-greg-elected-to-us-congress-175932">Vice-President Mike Pence's older brother Greg elected to US Congress</a>

Greg Pence, the older brother of US Vice President Mike Pence, won a seat in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday soon after polls began closing in the midterm elections. &nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">Metoo</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">, Brexit are now in the dictionary, 'single-use' is </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">word</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923"> of the year</a>

"Single-use" was named the Collins Dictionary word of the year on Wednesday, following a four-fold increase in usage since 2013 in a reflection of increased concerns about sustainability.

US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump. Democrats snatch first Congress seats from Republicans in US midterms Democrats seized their first two Republican-held seats of the US midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping House seats in Virginia and Florida seen as crucial to the opposition party's effort to regain a majority in the chamber. US exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan. Vice-President Mike Pence's older brother Greg elected to US Congress Greg Pence, the older brother of US Vice President Mike Pence, won a seat in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday soon after polls began closing in the midterm elections. Metoo, Brexit are now in the dictionary, 'single-use' is word of the year "Single-use" was named the Collins Dictionary word of the year on Wednesday, following a four-fold increase in usage since 2013 in a reflection of increased concerns about sustainability.

News brief: Big stories of the day

American voters poured out across their bitterly divided country Tuesday to deliver judgment on Donald Trump in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-us-midterm-polls-how-they-work-and-what-is-at-stakes-175277">midterm polls</a> where opposition Democrats hope to seize at least partial control of Congress.

From New York to California and from Missouri to Georgia there were long lines from early morning at polling stations as voters finally got their say, following a heated, often tense campaign.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/control-of-congress-and-verdict-on-trump-at-stake-in-us-elections-175905">Control of Congress is at stake</a>, effectively deciding whether Trump will continue to get a free ride from the current Republican-led legislature or be forced to deal with Democrats that he has spent months deriding as extreme leftists bent on bringing chaos to the United States.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 governorships were up for grabs.

Polls indicated that Democrats have a good chance of winning the 23 seats they need to seize the House, while Republicans were forecast to retain the Senate or even increase their current razor-thin majority of 51-49.

With memories still fresh from 2016, when Trump astonished experts by defeating the heavily favored Hillary Clinton, pollsters are being cautious. Several dozen races where candidates from the two sides are barely separated will decide the day.

Even so, Democrats scented triumph, with Nancy Pelosi, the party's top leader in the House, saying "it's just a question of the size of the victory."

Former vice president Joe Biden, often touted as a possible Democratic candidate to take on Trump in 2020, said he'd be "dumbfounded" not to win the House.

The first polling stations closed at 6:00 pm Eastern time (2300 GMT) in parts of Kentucky and Indiana -- where Democrats are struggling to hold a crucial Senate seat in a state won by Trump two years ago. The last polls were to close seven hours later in Alaska, with results trickling in through the evening.

Big turnout 
Voters often sit out the midterms. This time, they're sitting up.

According to Michael McDonald of the US Elections Project, 38.4 million Americans cast their ballots early ahead of this election, compared with 27.4 million in the 2014 midterm.

And on the streets there was a palpable buzz.

"We have already seen huge turnout, people out and about knocking on doors, making sure everybody gets out there, but I think turnout will be very, very high," Democratic candidate Katie Porter, who is running in Irvine, California, against two-term Republican incumbent Mimi Walters, told AFP.

On the other side of the country, in Atlanta, Georgia, voters waited in line for nearly two hours to cast ballots, according to local media reports.

At a polling station in Arlington, Virginia, head election officer William Harkins said "it's a very good turnout."

Trump himself noted the energy as he wrapped up a punishing schedule of rallies around the country that were intended to boost Republican candidates -- and his own brand heading towards reelection in 2020.

"The midterm elections used to be, like, boring," Trump told a crowd in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday. "Now it's like the hottest thing."

Immigration fears 
Trump was spending the day at the White House, tweeting support for Republicans in the toughest races and preparing to watch the results alongside friends and family, his spokeswoman said.

The president so dominates politics across the country that despite not being on any ballot he has made the election largely about him.

Voting in Chicago, James Gerlock, 27, a Republican, said he wanted to see more of the soaring economic growth that Trump says is the fruit of his business-friendly policies.

"I am extremely happy with the economy," Gerlock said. "I just love the deregulation and I just want to keep everything moving, because I'm loving it."

But Democrats have been fired up by anger at Trump's extraordinary attacks over the last few weeks against immigrants, claiming that his opponents seek to throw open the borders to "drug dealers, predators and bloodthirsty MS-13 killers."

Sensing that his Republican base favors the hardline stand, Trump has sent soldiers to the Mexican border, threatened to have illegal immigrants shot if they throw stones at the border, and vowed to restrict citizenship rights.

At Trump's pre-election rallies, large crowds have consistently cheered his rhetoric about strengthening the southern border, chanting "build the wall!"

But Beto O'Rourke, a charismatic Democrat in a closely watched bid to dethrone Republican Ted Cruz in Texas, told voters that Trump was wrong, describing his state as built from "immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees."

"This is our source of strength," O'Rourke said as he voted in El Paso. "No one from outside can stir paranoia or fear that can change that."

The result in Texas will say much about which way argument has worked best in these polarized times. Other tight Senate races are in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

American voters poured out across their bitterly divided country Tuesday to deliver judgment on Donald Trump in midterm polls where opposition Democrats hope to seize at least partial control of Congress.

American voters poured out across their bitterly divided country Tuesday to deliver judgment on Donald Trump in midterm polls where opposition Democrats hope to seize at least partial control of Congress. From New York to California and from Missouri to Georgia there were long lines from early morning at polling stations as voters finally got their say, following a heated, often tense campaign. Control of Congress is at stake, effectively deciding whether Trump will continue to get a free ride from the current Republican-led legislature or be forced to deal with Democrats that he has spent months deriding as extreme leftists bent on bringing chaos to the United States. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate and 36 governorships were up for grabs. Polls indicated that Democrats have a good chance of winning the 23 seats they need to seize the House, while Republicans were forecast to retain the Senate or even increase their current razor-thin majority of 51-49. With memories still fresh from 2016, when Trump astonished experts by defeating the heavily favored Hillary Clinton, pollsters are being cautious. Several dozen races where candidates from the two sides are barely separated will decide the day. Even so, Democrats scented triumph, with Nancy Pelosi, the party's top leader in the House, saying "it's just a question of the size of the victory." Former vice president Joe Biden, often touted as a possible Democratic candidate to take on Trump in 2020, said he'd be "dumbfounded" not to win the House. The first polling stations closed at 6:00 pm Eastern time (2300 GMT) in parts of Kentucky and Indiana -- where Democrats are struggling to hold a crucial Senate seat in a state won by Trump two years ago. The last polls were to close seven hours later in Alaska, with results trickling in through the evening. Big turnout Voters often sit out the midterms. This time, they're sitting up. According to Michael McDonald of the US Elections Project, 38.4 million Americans cast their ballots early ahead of this election, compared with 27.4 million in the 2014 midterm. And on the streets there was a palpable buzz. "We have already seen huge turnout, people out and about knocking on doors, making sure everybody gets out there, but I think turnout will be very, very high," Democratic candidate Katie Porter, who is running in Irvine, California, against two-term Republican incumbent Mimi Walters, told AFP. On the other side of the country, in Atlanta, Georgia, voters waited in line for nearly two hours to cast ballots, according to local media reports. At a polling station in Arlington, Virginia, head election officer William Harkins said "it's a very good turnout." Trump himself noted the energy as he wrapped up a punishing schedule of rallies around the country that were intended to boost Republican candidates -- and his own brand heading towards reelection in 2020. "The midterm elections used to be, like, boring," Trump told a crowd in Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday. "Now it's like the hottest thing." Immigration fears Trump was spending the day at the White House, tweeting support for Republicans in the toughest races and preparing to watch the results alongside friends and family, his spokeswoman said. The president so dominates politics across the country that despite not being on any ballot he has made the election largely about him. Voting in Chicago, James Gerlock, 27, a Republican, said he wanted to see more of the soaring economic growth that Trump says is the fruit of his business-friendly policies. "I am extremely happy with the economy," Gerlock said. "I just love the deregulation and I just want to keep everything moving, because I'm loving it." But Democrats have been fired up by anger at Trump's extraordinary attacks over the last few weeks against immigrants, claiming that his opponents seek to throw open the borders to "drug dealers, predators and bloodthirsty MS-13 killers." Sensing that his Republican base favors the hardline stand, Trump has sent soldiers to the Mexican border, threatened to have illegal immigrants shot if they throw stones at the border, and vowed to restrict citizenship rights. At Trump's pre-election rallies, large crowds have consistently cheered his rhetoric about strengthening the southern border, chanting "build the wall!" But Beto O'Rourke, a charismatic Democrat in a closely watched bid to dethrone Republican Ted Cruz in Texas, told voters that Trump was wrong, describing his state as built from "immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees." "This is our source of strength," O'Rourke said as he voted in El Paso. "No one from outside can stir paranoia or fear that can change that." The result in Texas will say much about which way argument has worked best in these polarized times. Other tight Senate races are in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

US midterms: Huge turnout as America votes to decide if it is for or against Trump

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chabahar-port-developed-by-india-to-be-inaugurated-in-iran-today-25724">Chabahar from new sanctions</a> on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan.

The United States will <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-sanctions-on-iran-threaten-vital-afghanistan-trade-project-138341">exempt from sanctions</a> the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said.

President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said.

"This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said.

The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday.

The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief.

Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil.

India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran.

India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa.

Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan. Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan. The United States will exempt from sanctions the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said. President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said. "This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said. The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday. The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief. Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil. India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran. India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa. Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

US exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to <a href="Big turnout as America votes in test of Trump presidency">re-election</a> for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates.

Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

The Republican candidate, Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester real estate broker with experience in international trade, campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs. But his candidacy never gained traction and his campaign drew little attention.

Rather than focusing on his re-election, Sanders travelled the country to support Democratic candidates and an array of policy issues.

Meanwhile, Beyonce endorsed Texas Democratic Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke over Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the final hours before her home <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-us-midterm-polls-how-they-work-and-what-is-at-stakes-175277">state's polls</a> close.

The native Houstonian released a series of Instagram posts with a black and white "Beto" cap partially covering her face on Tuesday afternoon. O'Rourke himself then retweeted one of the pictures under the caption "Thank you, Beyonce."

An El Paso congressman, O'Rourke is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994. He's drawn the admiration of many celebrities, including Texas country music icon Willie Nelson.

Cruz dismisses his opponent's upset-minded campaign as too liberal for Texas since O'Rourke supports universal health care and impeaching President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election. Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006. The Republican candidate, Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester real estate broker with experience in international trade, campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs. But his candidacy never gained traction and his campaign drew little attention. Rather than focusing on his re-election, Sanders travelled the country to support Democratic candidates and an array of policy issues. Meanwhile, Beyonce endorsed Texas Democratic Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke over Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the final hours before her home state's polls close. The native Houstonian released a series of Instagram posts with a black and white "Beto" cap partially covering her face on Tuesday afternoon. O'Rourke himself then retweeted one of the pictures under the caption "Thank you, Beyonce." An El Paso congressman, O'Rourke is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994. He's drawn the admiration of many celebrities, including Texas country music icon Willie Nelson. Cruz dismisses his opponent's upset-minded campaign as too liberal for Texas since O'Rourke supports universal health care and impeaching President Donald Trump.

Vermont's Bernie Sanders cruises to 3rd Senate term

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/control-of-congress-and-verdict-on-trump-at-stake-in-us-elections-175905">US House seat</a> in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

With nearly two thirds of ballots counted, Democratic state lawmaker Jennifer Wexton was ahead of Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock by 57 per cent to 43 per cent in their suburban northern Virginia district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, NBC reported.

Democrats must gain 23 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives to regain control of the chamber, which is currently led by President Donald Trump's Republicans.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Vermont's<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vermonts-bernie-sanders-cruises-to-3rd-senate-term-175924"> Bernie Sanders </a>has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates.

Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election.

Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a US House seat in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

Democrats claimed their first pick-up of the midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping a US House seat in Virginia seen as crucial to their effort to regain a majority in the chamber. With nearly two thirds of ballots counted, Democratic state lawmaker Jennifer Wexton was ahead of Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock by 57 per cent to 43 per cent in their suburban northern Virginia district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, NBC reported. Democrats must gain 23 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives to regain control of the chamber, which is currently led by President Donald Trump's Republicans. Meanwhile, Vermont's Bernie Sanders has cruised to re-election for his third term in the Senate, easily outpacing eight candidates. Sanders, the independent who has long been one of the state's most popular politicians, spent little time campaigning ahead of the election. Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

Democrats get first House pick-up of midterms: US networks

Donald Trump completed a whirlwind final push to stop Democrats from breaking his Republicans' stranglehold on the US Congress in bitter midterm elections Tuesday.

Hitting three states in one day, with a final late rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Trump hammered home his boast that "the Republican agenda is the American dream."

However, after an election campaign marred by extremist violence, opponents called the polls a chance to curtail a president they accuse of deliberately stirring racism and social division in the search for votes.

For almost two years, Trump's rule-breaking, sometimes chaotic administration has enjoyed a free hand from the twin Republican controlled chambers, but the midterms could see him forced to face an opposition with real teeth.

The entire House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are up for grabs.

According to nearly all pollsters, the Democrats have a good chance of winning the House, while the Republicans are likely to retain the Senate.

But with turnout a key unknown factor and pollsters still unsure about the effect of Trump's maverick style on voters, both parties admit that they may be in for a surprise.

While Trump is not on the ballot, the most polarizing US president for decades has put himself at the center of every issue.

With a characteristic mix of folksiness, bombast and sometimes cruel humor, he says voters must choose between his stewardship of a booming economy and what he claims would be the Democrats' extreme-left policies.

In a Fox News op-ed on Monday he wrote that the US "has the best economy in the history of our country -- and hope has finally returned to cities and towns across America."

At every rally, Trump has vowed to his chanting supporters they will "win, win, win."

But as he touched down in Indiana for the second leg of his final-day tour, even Trump conceded that the House may slip from his party's grasp.

"We'll just have to work a little bit differently," he told reporters when asked how he'd live with a Democrat-controlled chamber.

Racism claims&nbsp;

The party of a first-term president tends to lose congressional seats in his first midterm. However, a healthy economy favors the incumbent, so Trump may yet defy the historical pattern.

New figures on the eve of the polls confirmed that job growth is soaring and Trump gives himself credit for the "hottest economy on Earth."

But to the dismay of some Republicans he has often pivoted away from that message in the final week of campaigning to emphasize a hardline -- and critics say racist -- crackdown against illegal immigrants.

Claiming that the country literally faces an "invasion" of migrants, Trump has sent thousands of soldiers to the Mexican border, suggested that illegal immigrants who throw stones should be shot, and made wild claims about the Democrats planning turn the country into a crime-and-drugs black hole.

Stirring fear of foreigners and trumpeting American nationalism worked for Trump in his 2016 election victory against the Democrats' establishment candidate Hillary Clinton.

But the angry tone has also turned off swaths of Americans.

Bernie Sanders, the leftist populist who some feel would have had a better chance than Clinton to take on Trump in 2016, lashed out Monday at the president, calling him a "pathological liar."

"He is a sexist, a racist, a homophobe, a xenophobe and a religious bigot. He is trying to do what we have never seen in the modern history of this country to do what he is doing right now, to gain votes by trying to divide the American people up based on where we came from," Sanders said on SiriusXM Progress radio.

Former president Barack Obama said while campaigning for Democrats: "The character of our country's on the ballot."

Violence and jitters&nbsp;

Pollsters, still gun-shy after underestimating Trump's strength ahead of 2016, say that margins are so tight in key races that they cannot rule out another shock result.

Races to watch include Democrat Beto O'Rourke's challenge to Senator Ted Cruz in traditionally deep-Republican Texas.

On Monday, O'Rourke depicted the contest as an epic event, saying that Texans "will define the future, not just of Texas, but of this country, not just this generation but every generation that follows."

Other big races are Republican Pete Stauber's bid to flip a House Democratic stronghold in Minnesota, while Democrats in Florida and Georgia are aiming to become the states' first African-American governors.

Trump's ultra-loyal base laps up his colorful style, which includes at times jaw-dropping insults against opponents and factually erroneous claims.

However, even some supporters became jittery after a Florida man and ardent Trump supporter was charged with sending homemade bombs to more than a dozen senior Democrats and other high profile opponents.

Just after, a gunman walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shot 11 worshippers dead.&nbsp;

He had allegedly lashed out online against Jews he accused of transporting Central American "invaders" into the United States -- in language that echoed Trump's own attacks on the impoverished migrants as "an invasion."

Donald Trump completed a whirlwind final push to stop Democrats from breaking his Republicans' stranglehold on the US Congress in bitter midterm elections Tuesday.

Donald Trump completed a whirlwind final push to stop Democrats from breaking his Republicans' stranglehold on the US Congress in bitter midterm elections Tuesday. Hitting three states in one day, with a final late rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Trump hammered home his boast that "the Republican agenda is the American dream." However, after an election campaign marred by extremist violence, opponents called the polls a chance to curtail a president they accuse of deliberately stirring racism and social division in the search for votes. For almost two years, Trump's rule-breaking, sometimes chaotic administration has enjoyed a free hand from the twin Republican controlled chambers, but the midterms could see him forced to face an opposition with real teeth. The entire House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are up for grabs. According to nearly all pollsters, the Democrats have a good chance of winning the House, while the Republicans are likely to retain the Senate. But with turnout a key unknown factor and pollsters still unsure about the effect of Trump's maverick style on voters, both parties admit that they may be in for a surprise. While Trump is not on the ballot, the most polarizing US president for decades has put himself at the center of every issue. With a characteristic mix of folksiness, bombast and sometimes cruel humor, he says voters must choose between his stewardship of a booming economy and what he claims would be the Democrats' extreme-left policies. In a Fox News op-ed on Monday he wrote that the US "has the best economy in the history of our country -- and hope has finally returned to cities and towns across America." At every rally, Trump has vowed to his chanting supporters they will "win, win, win." But as he touched down in Indiana for the second leg of his final-day tour, even Trump conceded that the House may slip from his party's grasp. "We'll just have to work a little bit differently," he told reporters when asked how he'd live with a Democrat-controlled chamber. Racism claims The party of a first-term president tends to lose congressional seats in his first midterm. However, a healthy economy favors the incumbent, so Trump may yet defy the historical pattern. New figures on the eve of the polls confirmed that job growth is soaring and Trump gives himself credit for the "hottest economy on Earth." But to the dismay of some Republicans he has often pivoted away from that message in the final week of campaigning to emphasize a hardline -- and critics say racist -- crackdown against illegal immigrants. Claiming that the country literally faces an "invasion" of migrants, Trump has sent thousands of soldiers to the Mexican border, suggested that illegal immigrants who throw stones should be shot, and made wild claims about the Democrats planning turn the country into a crime-and-drugs black hole. Stirring fear of foreigners and trumpeting American nationalism worked for Trump in his 2016 election victory against the Democrats' establishment candidate Hillary Clinton. But the angry tone has also turned off swaths of Americans. Bernie Sanders, the leftist populist who some feel would have had a better chance than Clinton to take on Trump in 2016, lashed out Monday at the president, calling him a "pathological liar." "He is a sexist, a racist, a homophobe, a xenophobe and a religious bigot. He is trying to do what we have never seen in the modern history of this country to do what he is doing right now, to gain votes by trying to divide the American people up based on where we came from," Sanders said on SiriusXM Progress radio. Former president Barack Obama said while campaigning for Democrats: "The character of our country's on the ballot." Violence and jitters Pollsters, still gun-shy after underestimating Trump's strength ahead of 2016, say that margins are so tight in key races that they cannot rule out another shock result. Races to watch include Democrat Beto O'Rourke's challenge to Senator Ted Cruz in traditionally deep-Republican Texas. On Monday, O'Rourke depicted the contest as an epic event, saying that Texans "will define the future, not just of Texas, but of this country, not just this generation but every generation that follows." Other big races are Republican Pete Stauber's bid to flip a House Democratic stronghold in Minnesota, while Democrats in Florida and Georgia are aiming to become the states' first African-American governors. Trump's ultra-loyal base laps up his colorful style, which includes at times jaw-dropping insults against opponents and factually erroneous claims. However, even some supporters became jittery after a Florida man and ardent Trump supporter was charged with sending homemade bombs to more than a dozen senior Democrats and other high profile opponents. Just after, a gunman walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shot 11 worshippers dead. He had allegedly lashed out online against Jews he accused of transporting Central American "invaders" into the United States -- in language that echoed Trump's own attacks on the impoverished migrants as "an invasion."

Trump says American dream at stake in US midterms after polarising campaign

For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-us-channels-drop-trump-campaign-ad-deemed-to-be-racist-175725">divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics</a>.

But on the eve of the election, in a packed airport hangar in Cleveland and at other Trump rallies across the nation, the stakes are different: a vote to protect a leader they see as under siege, whose inflammatory rhetoric is a necessary price for a norm-shattering era of change.

"You think we're letting that caravan come into this country?" Trump asked the crowd on Monday, referring to a group of Central American migrants moving through Mexico toward the US&nbsp;border.

"No!" his supporters shouted.

At rallies overflowing with red-hatted, mostly white supporters in conservative pockets of the country, those backing Trump say they hope to make his ideas the dominant force in American political life for decades to come.

They face strong headwinds. Nationally, about 52 per cent of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance. More people say they would vote for a Democratic candidate than a Republican in Tuesday's congressional elections, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

But pro-Trump Republicans are eager to defy expectations, just as the president did with his 2016 victory.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, pro-Trump activist Ben Hirschmann, 23, sees Tuesday's elections as decisive for Trump’s vision of America.

“Trump’s not on the ballot, but he is on the ballot," he said at a phone-bank event to get out the vote at the local Republican headquarters. "Everything we voted for in 2016 is on the line in 2018.”

'NOW WE'RE LIVING GOOD'

Trump embarked on a three-state tour in the Midwest on Monday, holding rallies in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri.

He has a clear strategy: drive Republican turnout by painting a dark, apocalyptic vision of life in America under Democrats, while fanning fears over illegal immigration. He casts his rivals as an angry, liberal and dangerous "mob" and plays up gains in the economy.

"Democrats produce mobs. Republicans produce jobs," Trump said in Cleveland, repeating a familiar line from his rallies.

But as the frequency of his speeches and rallies increases, so too have his distortions and falsehoods, according to the Washington Post's "Fact Checker" database. In the seven weeks before Tuesday's elections, Trump averaged 30 false or misleading claims a day, up from an average of five a day during his first nine months in office.

Trump frequently denies that he misleads the public and instead blames the media for what he describes as distortions of his words.

It is unclear whether Trump's campaign strategy will work.

Republicans are expected to keep control of the Senate. But Democrats are widely favoured to win the 23 seats they need to assume control of the House of Representatives. The Republican Party is defending dozens of seats in largely suburban districts where Trump’s popularity has languished and Democrats have performed well in presidential races.

Trump's rallies have focussed mostly on Senate and gubernatorial battles in states he won in the 2016 White House race – from Florida and Missouri to West Virginia and Ohio. A Trump adviser, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters: “These are places where data and polling information tells us that the president is of best use.”

At a rally in Johnson City, Tennessee, in early October, Jessica Lotz, 33, and her fiance, Chad Lavery, 49, said Trump’s immigration policies resonated with them. During the 2008 economic downturn, Lotz and Lavery said they saw construction, landscaping and house-painting jobs go to illegal immigrants while they struggled financially.

As the economy rebounded, so, too, did their fortunes.

“Now we're living good,” Lavery said, crediting their ability to find work and better wages to Trump, who inherited an economy that was already in one of its longest recoveries and gave it an additional boost with tax cuts.

'FRUSTRATED'

After a Trump rally in September in Springfield, Missouri, pro-Trump activist Brenda Webb, 64, sat for a late dinner at a restaurant with five friends who had driven to the rally from the St. Louis suburbs.

Webb and her friends had joined protests against Democratic then-President Barack Obama in St. Louis in 2009 that were part of a broader conservative“Tea Party” movement centred on calls for smaller government, lower taxes and fewer regulations.

But the energy fizzled, she said. The group became animated talking about how Trump had given new focus to those early Tea Party goals of reclaiming government for ordinary citizens, not just the "elites" in Washington.

“We feel like he's working to resolve all the problems that we are so frustrated by,” Webb said.

At the Springfield rally, Brian Whorton, who drove a few hours to see the president, said he voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 before becoming a Republican. "I was not politically aware and awake. I thought, 'Oh he's cool and he's a good speaker and an African-American guy,'" said Whorton, who is white.

Trump’s policies, he said, were making a difference for him: He said his manager at an aluminium electrical wire factory had credited Trump tariffs with raising their profits.

"He is putting people back to work," said retired postal worker Barbara Peacock, 58, as she leafed through Trump 2020 re-election merchandise at his rally in Macon, Georgia, on Sunday. "He is telling it like it is."

In Ohio, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Mandi Merritt referred to pro-Trump enthusiasts as a “grassroots army” that could be harnessed and dispatched to boost Republican voter turnout.

On a sunny day in October, Trump supporter Kimmy Kolkovich, 46, joined a friend on the sidewalk at a busy intersection near the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus to urge people to register and vote.

“Even if I’m registering people who are going to vote for the other party, they’re seeing us out here in our hats, and that’s what’s important, all the little interactions and conversations we’re having,” Kolkovich said.

For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics.

For many Americans, Tuesday's congressional midterm elections are a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump’s divisive persona, hard-line policies and pugnacious politics. But on the eve of the election, in a packed airport hangar in Cleveland and at other Trump rallies across the nation, the stakes are different: a vote to protect a leader they see as under siege, whose inflammatory rhetoric is a necessary price for a norm-shattering era of change. "You think we're letting that caravan come into this country?" Trump asked the crowd on Monday, referring to a group of Central American migrants moving through Mexico toward the US border. "No!" his supporters shouted. At rallies overflowing with red-hatted, mostly white supporters in conservative pockets of the country, those backing Trump say they hope to make his ideas the dominant force in American political life for decades to come. They face strong headwinds. Nationally, about 52 per cent of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance. More people say they would vote for a Democratic candidate than a Republican in Tuesday's congressional elections, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows. But pro-Trump Republicans are eager to defy expectations, just as the president did with his 2016 victory. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, pro-Trump activist Ben Hirschmann, 23, sees Tuesday's elections as decisive for Trump’s vision of America. “Trump’s not on the ballot, but he is on the ballot," he said at a phone-bank event to get out the vote at the local Republican headquarters. "Everything we voted for in 2016 is on the line in 2018.” 'NOW WE'RE LIVING GOOD' Trump embarked on a three-state tour in the Midwest on Monday, holding rallies in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. He has a clear strategy: drive Republican turnout by painting a dark, apocalyptic vision of life in America under Democrats, while fanning fears over illegal immigration. He casts his rivals as an angry, liberal and dangerous "mob" and plays up gains in the economy. "Democrats produce mobs. Republicans produce jobs," Trump said in Cleveland, repeating a familiar line from his rallies. But as the frequency of his speeches and rallies increases, so too have his distortions and falsehoods, according to the Washington Post's "Fact Checker" database. In the seven weeks before Tuesday's elections, Trump averaged 30 false or misleading claims a day, up from an average of five a day during his first nine months in office. Trump frequently denies that he misleads the public and instead blames the media for what he describes as distortions of his words. It is unclear whether Trump's campaign strategy will work. Republicans are expected to keep control of the Senate. But Democrats are widely favoured to win the 23 seats they need to assume control of the House of Representatives. The Republican Party is defending dozens of seats in largely suburban districts where Trump’s popularity has languished and Democrats have performed well in presidential races. Trump's rallies have focussed mostly on Senate and gubernatorial battles in states he won in the 2016 White House race – from Florida and Missouri to West Virginia and Ohio. A Trump adviser, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters: “These are places where data and polling information tells us that the president is of best use.” At a rally in Johnson City, Tennessee, in early October, Jessica Lotz, 33, and her fiance, Chad Lavery, 49, said Trump’s immigration policies resonated with them. During the 2008 economic downturn, Lotz and Lavery said they saw construction, landscaping and house-painting jobs go to illegal immigrants while they struggled financially. As the economy rebounded, so, too, did their fortunes. “Now we're living good,” Lavery said, crediting their ability to find work and better wages to Trump, who inherited an economy that was already in one of its longest recoveries and gave it an additional boost with tax cuts. 'FRUSTRATED' After a Trump rally in September in Springfield, Missouri, pro-Trump activist Brenda Webb, 64, sat for a late dinner at a restaurant with five friends who had driven to the rally from the St. Louis suburbs. Webb and her friends had joined protests against Democratic then-President Barack Obama in St. Louis in 2009 that were part of a broader conservative“Tea Party” movement centred on calls for smaller government, lower taxes and fewer regulations. But the energy fizzled, she said. The group became animated talking about how Trump had given new focus to those early Tea Party goals of reclaiming government for ordinary citizens, not just the "elites" in Washington. “We feel like he's working to resolve all the problems that we are so frustrated by,” Webb said. At the Springfield rally, Brian Whorton, who drove a few hours to see the president, said he voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 before becoming a Republican. "I was not politically aware and awake. I thought, 'Oh he's cool and he's a good speaker and an African-American guy,'" said Whorton, who is white. Trump’s policies, he said, were making a difference for him: He said his manager at an aluminium electrical wire factory had credited Trump tariffs with raising their profits. "He is putting people back to work," said retired postal worker Barbara Peacock, 58, as she leafed through Trump 2020 re-election merchandise at his rally in Macon, Georgia, on Sunday. "He is telling it like it is." In Ohio, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Mandi Merritt referred to pro-Trump enthusiasts as a “grassroots army” that could be harnessed and dispatched to boost Republican voter turnout. On a sunny day in October, Trump supporter Kimmy Kolkovich, 46, joined a friend on the sidewalk at a busy intersection near the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus to urge people to register and vote. “Even if I’m registering people who are going to vote for the other party, they’re seeing us out here in our hats, and that’s what’s important, all the little interactions and conversations we’re having,” Kolkovich said.

US midterms: For Trump supporters, elections a battle to protect leader under siege

Immigration, health care, jobs. The extraordinary US midterm election has been a tug of war over key issues, but none has had a more dramatic impact on voters than Donald Trump, the man who isn't even on the ballot.

The Republican president is the omnipresent figure as Americans render their verdict Tuesday on the past 21 months of Trumpism.

Democrats hope voter dissatisfaction with the contentious commander in chief will lead to a blue wave that flips control of the US House out of Republican hands.

Trump's minions are counting on enthusiasm about core issues to trigger strong conservative voter turnout that preserves their majorities in Congress.

Here are the key factors in the battle for political control in Washington and across the country.

Trump, Trump, Trump&nbsp;

He says it himself: Even though Trump is not on the ballot, he is at the heart of the 2018 vote.

The election near the halfway mark of a president's first term is traditionally a referendum on the White House occupant.&nbsp;

But the billionaire businessman's explosive and iconoclastic personality has taken the trend to a new level.

"A vote for Marsha is really a vote for me and everything that we stand for," he said at an October event for Tennessee's Republican Senate nominee Marsha Blackburn.

Trump's scorched earth campaign stops have whipped up conservative fears about a migrant caravan "invasion," waves of crime and a slide towards socialism should Democrats take congressional control.

Many Democrats are counting on anti-Trump fervor to drive their base to the polls,&nbsp;but some advocate ignoring the politics of personal destruction and zeroing in on policy debates.

Trump is "deploying demagoguery to distract and divide us," and wielding "fear" to shift focus away from issues that Americans truly care about, warned Senate Democrat Patrick Leahy.

Violence&nbsp;

The campaign's final weeks were marred by the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, which left 11 dead in a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Days earlier, a frantic manhunt led to the arrest of a fanatical Trump supporter on charges of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Trump opponents, including former president Barack Obama.

This spasm of violence fueled a debate about the president's caustic rhetoric, and whether it has played a role in deepening American divisions.&nbsp;

Trump condemned the anti-Semitic attack but was more ambiguous about the homemade bomb threat. He quickly hit the road, and in typical Trump fashion attacked his opponents.

Women&nbsp;

Following the outbreak of the #MeToo movement denouncing sexual assault, and the massive women's protests against Trump, women voters and candidates will play critical roles in the first major election since Trump took power.&nbsp;

And they appear particularly motivated to vote.&nbsp;

Female college graduates in well-off suburbs are in the spotlight because many are voicing disgust with Trump's aggressive rhetoric, and their votes could decide tight races in Democrats' favor.

Also a record number of women -- 200 Democrats and 60 Republicans -- are candidates for Congress, where they currently hold only about 20 percent of the seats.

Immigration&nbsp;

Sending thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border to counter a migrant "invasion," questioning the validity of birthright citizenship, and spreading stories of scandalous murders by undocumented immigrants: Trump and his Republicans&nbsp;are making immigration a closing argument of the campaign.

It may be a logical move. Immigration is a top concern among Republican voters, and driving those issue-focused Trump supporters to the polls is key.

Adding to the fear-mongering are Republican-led conspiracy theories about Jewish billionaire philanthropist George Soros helping finance the caravan of Central American migrants.

Health care&nbsp;

For months, Democrats have drilled their central message into the minds of voters: if Republicans strengthen their grip on Congress, they will destroy your health care, including coverage protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

It is an arresting theme in a country that does not have a universal health coverage system. The reforms signed into law by Democratic president Barack Obama have helped millions of Americans gain insurance.&nbsp;

Despite their big 2016 campaign pledge, Trump and Republicans have so far failed to outright repeal Obamacare, although they have unravelled it little by little.&nbsp;

Recognizing that the concern about pre-existing conditions has galvanized voters regardless of party, Republicans have seized on it in the campaign's closing month, insisting that their plans would enshrine such protections.&nbsp;

"It's a lie," Obama declared on Friday.

The economy&nbsp;

Between Trump's "trade war," his renegotiation of international treaties, robust US growth and full employment, the economy is at the heart of this election.&nbsp;

In mining territory and industrial zones, Trump's protectionist policies are welcome. But farmers themselves have suffered from retaliatory measures imposed by America's trading partners.&nbsp;

Even with the US economy largely humming along, and Republican candidates desperate for Trump to highlight the gains, the president himself often prefers to rile up a crowd over immigration.

"Sometimes it's not as exciting to talk about the economy, right?" he told voters Friday in West Virginia.

Immigration, health care, jobs. The extraordinary US midterm election has been a tug of war over key issues, but none has had a more dramatic impact on voters than Donald Trump, the man who isn't even on the ballot.

Immigration, health care, jobs. The extraordinary US midterm election has been a tug of war over key issues, but none has had a more dramatic impact on voters than Donald Trump, the man who isn't even on the ballot. The Republican president is the omnipresent figure as Americans render their verdict Tuesday on the past 21 months of Trumpism. Democrats hope voter dissatisfaction with the contentious commander in chief will lead to a blue wave that flips control of the US House out of Republican hands. Trump's minions are counting on enthusiasm about core issues to trigger strong conservative voter turnout that preserves their majorities in Congress. Here are the key factors in the battle for political control in Washington and across the country. Trump, Trump, Trump He says it himself: Even though Trump is not on the ballot, he is at the heart of the 2018 vote. The election near the halfway mark of a president's first term is traditionally a referendum on the White House occupant. But the billionaire businessman's explosive and iconoclastic personality has taken the trend to a new level. "A vote for Marsha is really a vote for me and everything that we stand for," he said at an October event for Tennessee's Republican Senate nominee Marsha Blackburn. Trump's scorched earth campaign stops have whipped up conservative fears about a migrant caravan "invasion," waves of crime and a slide towards socialism should Democrats take congressional control. Many Democrats are counting on anti-Trump fervor to drive their base to the polls, but some advocate ignoring the politics of personal destruction and zeroing in on policy debates. Trump is "deploying demagoguery to distract and divide us," and wielding "fear" to shift focus away from issues that Americans truly care about, warned Senate Democrat Patrick Leahy. Violence The campaign's final weeks were marred by the worst anti-Semitic attack in modern US history, which left 11 dead in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Days earlier, a frantic manhunt led to the arrest of a fanatical Trump supporter on charges of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Trump opponents, including former president Barack Obama. This spasm of violence fueled a debate about the president's caustic rhetoric, and whether it has played a role in deepening American divisions. Trump condemned the anti-Semitic attack but was more ambiguous about the homemade bomb threat. He quickly hit the road, and in typical Trump fashion attacked his opponents. Women Following the outbreak of the #MeToo movement denouncing sexual assault, and the massive women's protests against Trump, women voters and candidates will play critical roles in the first major election since Trump took power. And they appear particularly motivated to vote. Female college graduates in well-off suburbs are in the spotlight because many are voicing disgust with Trump's aggressive rhetoric, and their votes could decide tight races in Democrats' favor. Also a record number of women -- 200 Democrats and 60 Republicans -- are candidates for Congress, where they currently hold only about 20 percent of the seats. Immigration Sending thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border to counter a migrant "invasion," questioning the validity of birthright citizenship, and spreading stories of scandalous murders by undocumented immigrants: Trump and his Republicans are making immigration a closing argument of the campaign. It may be a logical move. Immigration is a top concern among Republican voters, and driving those issue-focused Trump supporters to the polls is key. Adding to the fear-mongering are Republican-led conspiracy theories about Jewish billionaire philanthropist George Soros helping finance the caravan of Central American migrants. Health care For months, Democrats have drilled their central message into the minds of voters: if Republicans strengthen their grip on Congress, they will destroy your health care, including coverage protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions. It is an arresting theme in a country that does not have a universal health coverage system. The reforms signed into law by Democratic president Barack Obama have helped millions of Americans gain insurance. Despite their big 2016 campaign pledge, Trump and Republicans have so far failed to outright repeal Obamacare, although they have unravelled it little by little. Recognizing that the concern about pre-existing conditions has galvanized voters regardless of party, Republicans have seized on it in the campaign's closing month, insisting that their plans would enshrine such protections. "It's a lie," Obama declared on Friday. The economy Between Trump's "trade war," his renegotiation of international treaties, robust US growth and full employment, the economy is at the heart of this election. In mining territory and industrial zones, Trump's protectionist policies are welcome. But farmers themselves have suffered from retaliatory measures imposed by America's trading partners. Even with the US economy largely humming along, and Republican candidates desperate for Trump to highlight the gains, the president himself often prefers to rile up a crowd over immigration. "Sometimes it's not as exciting to talk about the economy, right?" he told voters Friday in West Virginia.

Key factors in 2018 US midterm elections

The President of the United States acknowledged on Sunday that his priority in the legislative elections on Tuesday is the Senate, in an attempt to disassociate himself from the possible loss of Republican control in the House of Representatives, which the opposition Democrats have a good chance of regaining.

Two days before the elections, Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama returned to lead the campaign of their respective parties, the Republican and the Democrats, while hundreds of candidates for federal, state and local positions increased their efforts to get Americans out to vote.

"If the radical resistance (of the Democrats) takes power, they will move immediately to reverse America's progress and to eradicate all of the gains that we have made," Trump warned at his first out of the two rallies of the day in Macon, Georgia, before moving to Tennessee.

Obama, for his part, presented Tuesday's elections as "the most important" of his life, and stressed that "America is at a crossroads."

"There is a contest of ideas that is going on, about who we are and what kind of country we are going to be. The character of our nation is on the ballot," Obama said at a rally in Chicago, Illinois.

In the midterm elections, the 435 seats of the House of Representatives will be renewed plus one-third of the 100-seat Senate, as well as more than thirty governorships and hundreds of state and local public offices.

The polls paint a favorable picture for Democrats in the lower chamber, where they need to win 23 seats to recover a majority that the Republicans have held since 2011.

The President of the United States acknowledged on Sunday that his priority in the legislative elections on Tuesday is the Senate, in an attempt to disassociate himself from the possible loss of Republican control in the House of Representatives, which the opposition Democrats have a good chance of regaining.

The President of the United States acknowledged on Sunday that his priority in the legislative elections on Tuesday is the Senate, in an attempt to disassociate himself from the possible loss of Republican control in the House of Representatives, which the opposition Democrats have a good chance of regaining. Two days before the elections, Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama returned to lead the campaign of their respective parties, the Republican and the Democrats, while hundreds of candidates for federal, state and local positions increased their efforts to get Americans out to vote. "If the radical resistance (of the Democrats) takes power, they will move immediately to reverse America's progress and to eradicate all of the gains that we have made," Trump warned at his first out of the two rallies of the day in Macon, Georgia, before moving to Tennessee. Obama, for his part, presented Tuesday's elections as "the most important" of his life, and stressed that "America is at a crossroads." "There is a contest of ideas that is going on, about who we are and what kind of country we are going to be. The character of our nation is on the ballot," Obama said at a rally in Chicago, Illinois. In the midterm elections, the 435 seats of the House of Representatives will be renewed plus one-third of the 100-seat Senate, as well as more than thirty governorships and hundreds of state and local public offices. The polls paint a favorable picture for Democrats in the lower chamber, where they need to win 23 seats to recover a majority that the Republicans have held since 2011.

Trump and Obama on the campaign trail ahead of midterm elections

Amidst criticism from US President Donald Trump, some migrants travelling in a caravan through Mexico are considering staying on in the country.

Ahead of US&nbsp;congressional elections, President Donald Trump has warned repeatedly about the advance of the caravan and ordered thousands of troops to the Mexican border, where units strung up razor wire this weekend.

This group of migrants is made up of many children. They're resting in the city of Cordoba in Veracruz before they head off to Mexico City where some will consider getting a job in the bustling capital.

President Enrique Pena Nieto has called on migrants travelling through Mexico to register so that they can participate in a temporary work programme being offered by the government.

The leftist local government of Mexico City has set up medical and food aid facilities for migrants arriving in the capital, stressing the need for a humanitarian response to the challenges of the caravan.

Amidst criticism from US President Donald Trump, some migrants travelling in a caravan through Mexico are considering staying on in the country. Ahead of US congressional elections, President Donald Trump has warned repeatedly about the advance of the caravan and ordered thousands of troops to the Mexican border, where units strung up razor wire this weekend.

Amidst criticism from US President Donald Trump, some migrants travelling in a caravan through Mexico are considering staying on in the country. Ahead of US congressional elections, President Donald Trump has warned repeatedly about the advance of the caravan and ordered thousands of troops to the Mexican border, where units strung up razor wire this weekend. This group of migrants is made up of many children. They're resting in the city of Cordoba in Veracruz before they head off to Mexico City where some will consider getting a job in the bustling capital. President Enrique Pena Nieto has called on migrants travelling through Mexico to register so that they can participate in a temporary work programme being offered by the government. The leftist local government of Mexico City has set up medical and food aid facilities for migrants arriving in the capital, stressing the need for a humanitarian response to the challenges of the caravan.

Caravan migrants consider staying in Mexico as Trump rachets up criticism

Donald Trump and his Democratic rivals made frenzied, final pushes to motivate their core voters Sunday ahead of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-us-midterm-polls-how-they-work-and-what-is-at-stakes-175277">contentious midterm elections</a> seen as a referendum on the president's divisive first two years in office.

Both sides say voter turnout will be key.&nbsp;

Trump was on a hectic schedule of campaign appearances for Republican candidates 48 hours before Americans deliver their verdict at the ballot box, while former president Barack Obama made a last-ditch appeal for an endangered Senate Democrat in Indiana.&nbsp;

"You gotta get to the polls on Tuesday, and you gotta vote," Trump implored a crowd in Macon, Georgia, where he campaigned Sunday for the Republican candidate for governor in one of the country's tightest major races.

"The contrast in this election could not be more clear."

Political passions have risen to a rare peak, with early voting in some states already running far ahead of normal levels.

"It's all about turnout," Senator Chris Van Hollen told "Fox News Sunday," as Democrats wage what polls say is an uphill battle to win control of the US Senate.

Democrats are far better positioned for reclaiming a majority in the House, experts and polls say.

But in the first midterm under Trump -- an utterly unconventional president -- there are many unknowns, above all the bottom-line impact of a president who has driven both supporters and foes to a rare fever pitch of emotion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I can't speak to the blue, but I can speak to the red," Trump said earlier of Democrats and Republicans. "There is a lot of energy out there."

Democrats out front&nbsp;

The party of a first-term president tends to lose congressional seats in his first midterm. But a healthy economy favors the incumbent -- and the US economy has been growing with rare vigor.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday suggested that while Democrats retain an edge in their battle for the House, Republicans could profit from increasingly positive assessments of the economy and by Trump's harsh focus on border security.

It found registered voters preferred Democratic candidates for the House over Republicans by 50 percent to 43 percent; but that was down from a 14-point advantage in August.

A second poll, by NBC and The Wall Street Journal, also showed Democrats holding the same seven-point advantage over Republicans.

But in what could be a sharp warning sign for Republicans, that poll reported college-educated white women -- the so-called suburban moms seen as crucial to the 2018 outcome -- favor Democrats by a substantial 61 percent to 33 percent.

Another wild card: The campaign's closing days come just a week after a gunman, who allegedly hated immigrants and Jews, killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

A fanatical Trump supporter was also arrested on charges of mailing pipe bombs to prominent opponents of the president, including Obama.

The president's critics say the highly charged atmosphere he has helped create made the two attackers feel sufficiently comfortable to carry out their crimes

Republicans, trying to move past that, have been enthusiastically pressing the economic argument.&nbsp;

But the president -- to the unease of some in the party -- has instead used his nearly nonstop schedule of campaign rallies to keep the spotlight on what he calls the security threat from migrants seeking to enter the nation through Mexico.

"We're not letting these people invade our country," Trump declared.

'Kinder' America?&nbsp;

Democrats meantime painted sharp distinctions with Trump, insisting that only they will protect the health care gains made under Obama, that Trump has employed inhumane measures to keep migrants out, and that the divisiveness he has fostered must end.

And while Obama said Democrats would support a "kinder version of America," he did what many Democratic candidates have refrained from doing: directly challenging the president.

"There's got to be consequences when people don't tell the truth, when words stop meaning anything. When people can just lie with abandon, democracy can't work," he told a cheering crowd as he campaigned for Senator Joe Donnelly.

"The only check right now on the behavior of these Republicans is you and your vote."

Democrats face their toughest political map in decades in the Senate, which Republicans currently control 51-49. It is more favorable in the House, where Democrats need to gain 23 seats to take control of the 435-seat chamber.

Election analysts at website FiveThirtyEight.com put the likelihood of Democrats winning the House at 85 percent.

One key barometer of a midterm's direction is the presidential approval rating, and in Trump's case it is underwater, worsening in the last week to 54 percent disapproval versus 40 percent approval, according to public opinion pollster Gallup.

The two parties are also battling over dozens of governor's races, including tight high-profile contests in Georgia and Florida, where two Democrats are seeking to make history as the first African-Americans to lead those states

Donald Trump and his Democratic rivals made frenzied, final pushes to motivate their core voters Sunday ahead of contentious midterm elections seen as a referendum on the president's divisive first two years in office.

Donald Trump and his Democratic rivals made frenzied, final pushes to motivate their core voters Sunday ahead of contentious midterm elections seen as a referendum on the president's divisive first two years in office. Both sides say voter turnout will be key. Trump was on a hectic schedule of campaign appearances for Republican candidates 48 hours before Americans deliver their verdict at the ballot box, while former president Barack Obama made a last-ditch appeal for an endangered Senate Democrat in Indiana. "You gotta get to the polls on Tuesday, and you gotta vote," Trump implored a crowd in Macon, Georgia, where he campaigned Sunday for the Republican candidate for governor in one of the country's tightest major races. "The contrast in this election could not be more clear." Political passions have risen to a rare peak, with early voting in some states already running far ahead of normal levels. "It's all about turnout," Senator Chris Van Hollen told "Fox News Sunday," as Democrats wage what polls say is an uphill battle to win control of the US Senate. Democrats are far better positioned for reclaiming a majority in the House, experts and polls say. But in the first midterm under Trump -- an utterly unconventional president -- there are many unknowns, above all the bottom-line impact of a president who has driven both supporters and foes to a rare fever pitch of emotion. "I can't speak to the blue, but I can speak to the red," Trump said earlier of Democrats and Republicans. "There is a lot of energy out there." Democrats out front The party of a first-term president tends to lose congressional seats in his first midterm. But a healthy economy favors the incumbent -- and the US economy has been growing with rare vigor. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday suggested that while Democrats retain an edge in their battle for the House, Republicans could profit from increasingly positive assessments of the economy and by Trump's harsh focus on border security. It found registered voters preferred Democratic candidates for the House over Republicans by 50 percent to 43 percent; but that was down from a 14-point advantage in August. A second poll, by NBC and The Wall Street Journal, also showed Democrats holding the same seven-point advantage over Republicans. But in what could be a sharp warning sign for Republicans, that poll reported college-educated white women -- the so-called suburban moms seen as crucial to the 2018 outcome -- favor Democrats by a substantial 61 percent to 33 percent. Another wild card: The campaign's closing days come just a week after a gunman, who allegedly hated immigrants and Jews, killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue. A fanatical Trump supporter was also arrested on charges of mailing pipe bombs to prominent opponents of the president, including Obama. The president's critics say the highly charged atmosphere he has helped create made the two attackers feel sufficiently comfortable to carry out their crimes Republicans, trying to move past that, have been enthusiastically pressing the economic argument. But the president -- to the unease of some in the party -- has instead used his nearly nonstop schedule of campaign rallies to keep the spotlight on what he calls the security threat from migrants seeking to enter the nation through Mexico. "We're not letting these people invade our country," Trump declared. 'Kinder' America? Democrats meantime painted sharp distinctions with Trump, insisting that only they will protect the health care gains made under Obama, that Trump has employed inhumane measures to keep migrants out, and that the divisiveness he has fostered must end. And while Obama said Democrats would support a "kinder version of America," he did what many Democratic candidates have refrained from doing: directly challenging the president. "There's got to be consequences when people don't tell the truth, when words stop meaning anything. When people can just lie with abandon, democracy can't work," he told a cheering crowd as he campaigned for Senator Joe Donnelly. "The only check right now on the behavior of these Republicans is you and your vote." Democrats face their toughest political map in decades in the Senate, which Republicans currently control 51-49. It is more favorable in the House, where Democrats need to gain 23 seats to take control of the 435-seat chamber. Election analysts at website FiveThirtyEight.com put the likelihood of Democrats winning the House at 85 percent. One key barometer of a midterm's direction is the presidential approval rating, and in Trump's case it is underwater, worsening in the last week to 54 percent disapproval versus 40 percent approval, according to public opinion pollster Gallup. The two parties are also battling over dozens of governor's races, including tight high-profile contests in Georgia and Florida, where two Democrats are seeking to make history as the first African-Americans to lead those states

'You gotta get to the polls on Tuesday, and you gotta vote,' Trump says before US midterm elections

The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "the toughest sanctions ever placed" against Iran.

Taking effect Monday, the measures are the most concrete result yet of US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran.

They will directly affect companies from third countries doing business with Iran. They could upset world oil markets, though the US has granted temporary waivers to eight jurisdictions to continue importing Iranian oil.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the measures on Saturday, saying Trump had "disgraced" US prestige and would be the ultimate loser in the long-running quarrel between the countries.

The US side was unmoved.&nbsp;

"Sanctions from the United States will be reimposed at midnight tonight," Pompeo told CBS's "Face the Nation." He said what he called "the terror regime" in Tehran must change its ways.

Oil markets on alert&nbsp;

World oil markets were on alert, nervously set to gauge the consequences of the sanctions.

"All eyes will be on Iranian exports, whether there will be some cheating around US sanctions, and on how quickly production will fall," said Riccardo Fabiani, an analyst for Energy Aspects.

Oil is Iran's main source of income. But the sword has two edges: Iran is also the OPEC cartel's third-largest producer.

The US stance has already inflicted serious pain on Iranians, with the country's currency, the rial, losing more than two thirds of its value since May.&nbsp;

Iranian oil exports have fallen by about a million barrels a day in that time, though India and China have continued to purchase it. Most Europeans, as well as Japan and South Korea, have stopped.

Asked if the US had firm commitments from India and China to stop all oil purchases from Iran within six months, Pompeo replied: "Watch what we do. Watch as we've already taken more crude oil off the market than any time in previous history."

Saudi Arabia is the only country with the capacity to make up for lost Iranian oil production.

'Utter disregard'&nbsp;

Hours before the fresh sanctions went ahead, thousands of people in Iran marked the anniversary of the 1979 hostage-taking at the US embassy by carrying placards mocking Trump and burning American flags and fake dollars.

Trump has long argued that the 2015 nuclear deal is badly flawed, in part because its provisions would expire in 10 to 15 years and partly because it does not adequately constrain Iran's destabilizing behavior in the region.

His decision was widely criticized abroad and by Democrats at home, who said that while imperfect, the pact had placed the Iranian nuclear program under the tightest scrutiny ever.

In parallel with the imposition of the crude oil sanctions, the US Treasury Department is placing more than 600 Iranian individuals and entities on a black list.

And Pompeo said that any Iranian banks involved in "sanctionable behavior will be sanctioned by the Department of Treasury, period, full stop."

The European Union has established a mechanism to permit its multinational companies to maintain presences in Iran, but all signs are that the US sanctions will be dissuasive. Both Airbus and Total have announced plans to leave Iran.

A first set of sanctions announced August 7 prompted European automakers Daimler and PSA to quit Iran.

To continue exporting crude oil, Iranian tankers in recent weeks have been turning off their transponders to avoid detection. But satellites have continued to track them.

The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "the toughest sanctions ever placed" against Iran.

The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "the toughest sanctions ever placed" against Iran. Taking effect Monday, the measures are the most concrete result yet of US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran. They will directly affect companies from third countries doing business with Iran. They could upset world oil markets, though the US has granted temporary waivers to eight jurisdictions to continue importing Iranian oil. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the measures on Saturday, saying Trump had "disgraced" US prestige and would be the ultimate loser in the long-running quarrel between the countries. The US side was unmoved. "Sanctions from the United States will be reimposed at midnight tonight," Pompeo told CBS's "Face the Nation." He said what he called "the terror regime" in Tehran must change its ways. Oil markets on alert World oil markets were on alert, nervously set to gauge the consequences of the sanctions. "All eyes will be on Iranian exports, whether there will be some cheating around US sanctions, and on how quickly production will fall," said Riccardo Fabiani, an analyst for Energy Aspects. Oil is Iran's main source of income. But the sword has two edges: Iran is also the OPEC cartel's third-largest producer. The US stance has already inflicted serious pain on Iranians, with the country's currency, the rial, losing more than two thirds of its value since May. Iranian oil exports have fallen by about a million barrels a day in that time, though India and China have continued to purchase it. Most Europeans, as well as Japan and South Korea, have stopped. Asked if the US had firm commitments from India and China to stop all oil purchases from Iran within six months, Pompeo replied: "Watch what we do. Watch as we've already taken more crude oil off the market than any time in previous history." Saudi Arabia is the only country with the capacity to make up for lost Iranian oil production. 'Utter disregard' Hours before the fresh sanctions went ahead, thousands of people in Iran marked the anniversary of the 1979 hostage-taking at the US embassy by carrying placards mocking Trump and burning American flags and fake dollars. Trump has long argued that the 2015 nuclear deal is badly flawed, in part because its provisions would expire in 10 to 15 years and partly because it does not adequately constrain Iran's destabilizing behavior in the region. His decision was widely criticized abroad and by Democrats at home, who said that while imperfect, the pact had placed the Iranian nuclear program under the tightest scrutiny ever. In parallel with the imposition of the crude oil sanctions, the US Treasury Department is placing more than 600 Iranian individuals and entities on a black list. And Pompeo said that any Iranian banks involved in "sanctionable behavior will be sanctioned by the Department of Treasury, period, full stop." The European Union has established a mechanism to permit its multinational companies to maintain presences in Iran, but all signs are that the US sanctions will be dissuasive. Both Airbus and Total have announced plans to leave Iran. A first set of sanctions announced August 7 prompted European automakers Daimler and PSA to quit Iran. To continue exporting crude oil, Iranian tankers in recent weeks have been turning off their transponders to avoid detection. But satellites have continued to track them.

US sanctions on Iran, 'toughest ever,' take force today

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sabarimala-turns-police-fortress-as-ayyappa-temple-is-set-to-open-for-special-puja-175656">Sabarimala Temple re-opens for special 5-hour pooja amid heavy security</a>

Hundreds of police personnel, armed commandos, surveillance cameras and mobile jammers have turned Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa, into a virtual fortress, as it opens for a special puja on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fitting-response-to-nuke-blackmailers-said-pm-modi-on-ins-arihant-completing-the-nuclear-triad-175646">Fitting response to nuke blackmailers, says PM Modi on INS Arihant completing </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fitting-response-to-nuke-blackmailers-said-pm-modi-on-ins-arihant-completing-the-nuclear-triad-175646">nuclear</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fitting-response-to-nuke-blackmailers-said-pm-modi-on-ins-arihant-completing-the-nuclear-triad-175646"> triad</a>

Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant, India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, successfully completed its first successful deterrence patrol.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/we-oppose-unilateral-sanctions-and-long-arm-jurisdiction-against-iran-china-175654">We oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Iran: China</a>

As US oil sanctions on Iran kicked-in, China opposed the Trump administration's decision calling it a "unilateral" action."China opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-sanctions-mike-pompeo-issues-veiled-warning-to-india-and-china-on-crude-imports-from-iran-says-watch-what-we-do-175677">US issues veiled warning to India, China on crude imports from Iran, says 'watch what we do'</a>

The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "the toughest sanctions ever placed" against Iran.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/azhar-rings-bell-at-eden-gambhir-questions-bccis-no-tolerance-policy-against-corrupt-175669">Azhar rings </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/azhar-rings-bell-at-eden-gambhir-questions-bccis-no-tolerance-policy-against-corrupt-175669">bell</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/azhar-rings-bell-at-eden-gambhir-questions-bccis-no-tolerance-policy-against-corrupt-175669"> at Eden, Gambhir questions BCCI's 'no tolerance policy against corrupt'</a>

Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir on Monday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Committee of Administrators (COA) and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for inviting former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin to ring the bell for the India vs West Indies T20I at Eden Gardens.

Sabarimala Temple re-opens for special 5-hour pooja amid heavy security Hundreds of police personnel, armed commandos, surveillance cameras and mobile jammers have turned Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa, into a virtual fortress, as it opens for a special puja on Monday.

Sabarimala Temple re-opens for special 5-hour pooja amid heavy security Hundreds of police personnel, armed commandos, surveillance cameras and mobile jammers have turned Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa, into a virtual fortress, as it opens for a special puja on Monday. Fitting response to nuke blackmailers, says PM Modi on INS Arihant completing nuclear triad Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant, India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, successfully completed its first successful deterrence patrol. We oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Iran: China As US oil sanctions on Iran kicked-in, China opposed the Trump administration's decision calling it a "unilateral" action."China opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. US issues veiled warning to India, China on crude imports from Iran, says 'watch what we do' The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called "the toughest sanctions ever placed" against Iran. Azhar rings bell at Eden, Gambhir questions BCCI's 'no tolerance policy against corrupt' Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir on Monday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Committee of Administrators (COA) and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for inviting former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin to ring the bell for the India vs West Indies T20I at Eden Gardens.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic republic "will proudly bypass sanctions" by the United States that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-on-iran-toughest-ever-take-force-monday-175530">took effect on Monday</a> targeting the country's oil and financial sectors.

"I announce that we will proudly bypass your illegal, unjust sanctions because it's against international regulations," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"We are in a situation of economic war, confronting a bullying power. I don't think that in the history of America, someone has entered the White House who is so against law and international conventions," he added.

The renewed US sanctions aim to significantly curb Iran's oil exports and cut it off from international finance, and follow US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic republic "will proudly bypass sanctions" by the United States that took effect on Monday targeting the country's oil and financial sectors.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic republic "will proudly bypass sanctions" by the United States that took effect on Monday targeting the country's oil and financial sectors. "I announce that we will proudly bypass your illegal, unjust sanctions because it's against international regulations," Rouhani said in a televised speech. "We are in a situation of economic war, confronting a bullying power. I don't think that in the history of America, someone has entered the White House who is so against law and international conventions," he added. The renewed US sanctions aim to significantly curb Iran's oil exports and cut it off from international finance, and follow US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran.

As US sanctions kick in, Iran says it will 'proudly bypass' them

North Korea has warned the United States it will "seriously" consider returning to a state policy aimed at building <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-warns-us-against-confidence-destroying-measures-173432">nuclear weapons</a> if Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime.

For years, the North had pursued a "byungjin" policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy.

In April, citing a "fresh climate of detente and peace" on the peninsula, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the nuclear quest complete and said his country would focus on "socialist economic construction".

But a statement issued by the North's foreign ministry said Pyongyang could revert to its former policy if the US did not change its stance over sanctions.

"The word 'byungjin' may appear again and the change of the line could be seriously reconsidered," said the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency late Friday.

At a historic summit in Singapore in June, US President Donald Trump and Kim signed a vaguely-worded statement on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/need-to-assure-kim-he-took-right-decision-to-denuclearise-south-korean-president-moon-171498">denuclearisation</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/need-to-assure-kim-he-took-right-decision-to-denuclearise-south-korean-president-moon-171498">.</a>

But little progress has been made since then, with Washington pushing to maintain sanctions against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation" and Pyongyang condemning US demands as "gangster-like".

"The improvement of relations and sanctions are incompatible," said the statement, released under the name of the director of the foreign ministry's Institute for American Studies.&nbsp;

"What remains to be done is the US corresponding reply," it added.

The statement is the latest sign of Pyongyang's increasing frustration with Washington.

Last month, the North's state media carried a near 1,700 words long commentary accusing the US of playing a "double game", implicitly criticising Trump for his comments aimed at barring Seoul from lifting sanctions against Pyongyang.

Despite a flurry of diplomacy on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbour.

The South's doveish president Moon Jae-in has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes.

In an interview with Fox News on Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated that sanctions will remain until Pyongyang carries out it denuclearisation commitments made in Singapore, adding he will meet with his North Korean counterpart next week.

North Korea has warned the United States it will "seriously" consider returning to a state policy aimed at building nuclear weapons if Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime.

North Korea has warned the United States it will "seriously" consider returning to a state policy aimed at building nuclear weapons if Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime. For years, the North had pursued a "byungjin" policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy. In April, citing a "fresh climate of detente and peace" on the peninsula, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the nuclear quest complete and said his country would focus on "socialist economic construction". But a statement issued by the North's foreign ministry said Pyongyang could revert to its former policy if the US did not change its stance over sanctions. "The word 'byungjin' may appear again and the change of the line could be seriously reconsidered," said the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency late Friday. At a historic summit in Singapore in June, US President Donald Trump and Kim signed a vaguely-worded statement on denuclearisation. But little progress has been made since then, with Washington pushing to maintain sanctions against the North until its "final, fully verified denuclearisation" and Pyongyang condemning US demands as "gangster-like". "The improvement of relations and sanctions are incompatible," said the statement, released under the name of the director of the foreign ministry's Institute for American Studies. "What remains to be done is the US corresponding reply," it added. The statement is the latest sign of Pyongyang's increasing frustration with Washington. Last month, the North's state media carried a near 1,700 words long commentary accusing the US of playing a "double game", implicitly criticising Trump for his comments aimed at barring Seoul from lifting sanctions against Pyongyang. Despite a flurry of diplomacy on and around the peninsula differences are emerging between Seoul and Washington, which stations 28,500 troops in the South to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbour. The South's doveish president Moon Jae-in has long favoured engagement with the North, which is subject to multiple UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. He has dangled large investment and joint cross-border projects as incentives for steps towards denuclearisation, while the US has been adamant pressure should be maintained on Pyongyang until it fully dismantles its weapons programmes. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated that sanctions will remain until Pyongyang carries out it denuclearisation commitments made in Singapore, adding he will meet with his North Korean counterpart next week.

Will go back to building nukes if you don't end economic sanctions against us: North Korea to US

A number of notable races are taking place on Tuesday in the US midterm elections, when Americans go to the polls to elect governors and members of the US House of Representatives and Senate.

Here is a look at some of the most interesting contests:

Beto-mania&nbsp;

One of the most expensive and closely watched Senate races is in Texas, where incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz is facing Democratic Representative Beto O'Rourke.

O'Rourke, 46, whose given names are Robert Francis but who goes by Beto, is mounting a suprisingly strong challenge to the 47-year-old Cruz in the reliably Republican "Lone Star State."

O'Rourke, a three-term congressman and former member of a punk band, is drawing enthusiastic support from many urban dwellers in Texas while Cruz does better in conservative rural areas.

Plucking the Senate seat from Cruz, who battled Donald Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, would be a major victory for the Democratic Party.

Dueling female candidates&nbsp;

Arizona will have a woman representing the southwestern state in the US Senate for the first time as two women battle for the seat being vacated by Jeff Flake, a Trump critic who is not running for reelection.

The Republican flag-bearer is Martha McSally, a 52-year-old former US Air Force fighter pilot and two-term member of the House of Representatives.&nbsp;

McSally's Democratic opponent is Kyrsten Sinema, 42, a three-term member of the House of Representatives who spent several years of her childhood in poverty after her parents divorced.

McSally and Sinema are running neck-in-neck in a state which President Donald Trump won by 3.5 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election.

Democrats in danger&nbsp;

Democratic Senate candidates are in danger of losing their seats in Missouri, North Dakota and Indiana.

In Missouri -- which Trump won by 18 points in 2016 -- Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, 65, is facing a strong challenge from Republican attorney general Josh Hawley.

Trump has campaigned personally for the 38-year-old Hawley and called him a rising star in the party.

In North Dakota -- which Trump won by 36 points in 2016 -- Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp, 63, is fighting for her political survival against Republican Kevin Cramer.

Cramer, 57, who has served three terms in the House of Representatives, currently leads in the polls.

In Indiana, Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly, 63, has a small lead over his Republican challenger Mike Braun, a 64-year-old businessman, in a state which Trump won by 19 points in 2016.

Bob Menendez, 64, a Democrat from New Jersey who has served in the Senate since 2006, could also be in trouble after facing corruption charges.

The case ended up with a hung jury and a mistrial and the charges were dropped. Menendez is being challenged by Republican businessman Bob Hugin, 64.

Close eye on Florida&nbsp;

Two of the most-watched races in the country are in Florida.

Democrat Bill Nelson, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and was easily reelected in 2006 and 2012.

But Nelson, who served as a payload specialist on a Space Shuttle in 1986, is facing a tough challenge this time from Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott.

Gun control is a big issue in the race following the February shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead.

Another close race in Florida is for governor to replace the 65-year-old Scott.

Democrat Andrew Gillum, 39, the African-American mayor of Tallahassee, is locked in an acrimonious battle with Ron DeSantis, 40, a member of the House of Representatives and ardent Trump supporter.

Trump has personally campaigned for DeSantis and has had harsh words for Gillum, considered by some to be a potential future star of the Democratic Party.

First black female governor&nbsp;

In Georgia, Stacy Abrams, 44, the former minority leader of the state House of Representatives, is running for governor against Republican Brian Kemp, the 55-year-old Georgia secretary of state.

Abrams, who has received the support of Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities, would be the first black woman to become governor of a US state if she wins.

The race has seen allegations that Kemp has attempted to prevent tens of thousands of mainly black voters from taking part in the election.

A number of notable races are taking place on Tuesday in the US midterm elections, when Americans go to the polls to elect governors and members of the US House of Representatives and Senate.

A number of notable races are taking place on Tuesday in the US midterm elections, when Americans go to the polls to elect governors and members of the US House of Representatives and Senate. Here is a look at some of the most interesting contests: Beto-mania One of the most expensive and closely watched Senate races is in Texas, where incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz is facing Democratic Representative Beto O'Rourke. O'Rourke, 46, whose given names are Robert Francis but who goes by Beto, is mounting a suprisingly strong challenge to the 47-year-old Cruz in the reliably Republican "Lone Star State." O'Rourke, a three-term congressman and former member of a punk band, is drawing enthusiastic support from many urban dwellers in Texas while Cruz does better in conservative rural areas. Plucking the Senate seat from Cruz, who battled Donald Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, would be a major victory for the Democratic Party. Dueling female candidates Arizona will have a woman representing the southwestern state in the US Senate for the first time as two women battle for the seat being vacated by Jeff Flake, a Trump critic who is not running for reelection. The Republican flag-bearer is Martha McSally, a 52-year-old former US Air Force fighter pilot and two-term member of the House of Representatives. McSally's Democratic opponent is Kyrsten Sinema, 42, a three-term member of the House of Representatives who spent several years of her childhood in poverty after her parents divorced. McSally and Sinema are running neck-in-neck in a state which President Donald Trump won by 3.5 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election. Democrats in danger Democratic Senate candidates are in danger of losing their seats in Missouri, North Dakota and Indiana. In Missouri -- which Trump won by 18 points in 2016 -- Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, 65, is facing a strong challenge from Republican attorney general Josh Hawley. Trump has campaigned personally for the 38-year-old Hawley and called him a rising star in the party. In North Dakota -- which Trump won by 36 points in 2016 -- Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp, 63, is fighting for her political survival against Republican Kevin Cramer. Cramer, 57, who has served three terms in the House of Representatives, currently leads in the polls. In Indiana, Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly, 63, has a small lead over his Republican challenger Mike Braun, a 64-year-old businessman, in a state which Trump won by 19 points in 2016. Bob Menendez, 64, a Democrat from New Jersey who has served in the Senate since 2006, could also be in trouble after facing corruption charges. The case ended up with a hung jury and a mistrial and the charges were dropped. Menendez is being challenged by Republican businessman Bob Hugin, 64. Close eye on Florida Two of the most-watched races in the country are in Florida. Democrat Bill Nelson, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and was easily reelected in 2006 and 2012. But Nelson, who served as a payload specialist on a Space Shuttle in 1986, is facing a tough challenge this time from Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott. Gun control is a big issue in the race following the February shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead. Another close race in Florida is for governor to replace the 65-year-old Scott. Democrat Andrew Gillum, 39, the African-American mayor of Tallahassee, is locked in an acrimonious battle with Ron DeSantis, 40, a member of the House of Representatives and ardent Trump supporter. Trump has personally campaigned for DeSantis and has had harsh words for Gillum, considered by some to be a potential future star of the Democratic Party. First black female governor In Georgia, Stacy Abrams, 44, the former minority leader of the state House of Representatives, is running for governor against Republican Brian Kemp, the 55-year-old Georgia secretary of state. Abrams, who has received the support of Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities, would be the first black woman to become governor of a US state if she wins. The race has seen allegations that Kemp has attempted to prevent tens of thousands of mainly black voters from taking part in the election.

US midterm elections 2018: Races to watch in US midterm elections

US sanctions against importers of Iranian oil threaten the crude oil market's precarious balance and risk surging prices, all under Saudi Arabia's watchful gaze, according to experts.

"In the next weeks all eyes will be on Iranian exports, whether there will be some cheating around US sanctions, and on how quickly production will fall," said Riccardo Fabiani, an analyst for Energy Aspects.

The US will from Monday target buyers of Iranian oil in order to deprive Tehran of its main source of income.&nbsp;

Going after Iran's oil money will hit Tehran where it hurts, but it also means hitting a major pillar of the global oil market -- Iran is the OPEC cartel's third-largest producer -- with major consequences for world supply.

Iran exported the equivalent of 2.5 million barrels a day in April, before&nbsp;the announcement of sanctions turned buyers away.&nbsp;

"Even if the United States grants exemptions, Washington will demand that the volume imported from Iran be significantly reduced," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, who expects prices to rise.&nbsp;

Exemptions&nbsp;

However, oil prices have fallen by nearly $15 in less than a month, after peaking in early October at their highest level in two and a half years, with a barrel of Brent at over $85.&nbsp;

Part of the explanation lies in the ambiguous position of the US, which initially insisted that the sanctions were designed to reduce Iranian exports to zero barrels, but has since has softened its position.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced exemptions for eight countries, without naming them.&nbsp;

Turkey indicated that it was one of them and analysts believe that India, one of the world's largest importers, is also on the list, which will be published on Monday.

"India said to the US that they can't stop before March, they are facing a major currency crisis," explained Joel Hancock, analyst at Natixis.&nbsp;

Consumer confidence in the US itself could also suffer if rising oil prices translate into higher prices at the pump.

"If prices start to rise again or another major producer has difficulties, it could put pressure on the US and lead to new exemptions," said Fabiani.

Saudi uncertainty&nbsp;

The other major oil producing countries are expected to ramp up production to try and compensate for Iran's anticipated decline in output.&nbsp;

But in doing so, they run the risk of hampering their ability to react to any future crises.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, has claimed that it can respond to the Iranian shortfall, but some market players are wondering whether the kingdom is exhausting its capacities.&nbsp;

"Saudi Arabia can produce 12 million barrels a day, but only if it invests," said Hancock, noting that the country currently produces just under 11 million barrels a day.&nbsp;

He believes that Riyadh can currently only rely on 300,000 barrels per day of spare capacity, the extraction of which can be launched in fewer than 30 days.&nbsp;

"The mantra right now is to go to Saudi Arabia but its exports have remained flat at around 10 or 10.2 million barrels a day," said Samir Madani, an analyst at Tanker Trackers, which specialises in satellite tanker tracking.&nbsp;

"The big increase right now is Iraq at 4.2 million, which I've never seen before," he added.

The US, which is in the process of becoming the world's leading producer thanks to its shale oil operations, could meet part of the demand, but lacks export capacity, said the analyst.

US sanctions against importers of Iranian oil threaten the crude oil market's precarious balance and risk surging prices, all under Saudi Arabia's watchful gaze, according to experts.

US sanctions against importers of Iranian oil threaten the crude oil market's precarious balance and risk surging prices, all under Saudi Arabia's watchful gaze, according to experts. "In the next weeks all eyes will be on Iranian exports, whether there will be some cheating around US sanctions, and on how quickly production will fall," said Riccardo Fabiani, an analyst for Energy Aspects. The US will from Monday target buyers of Iranian oil in order to deprive Tehran of its main source of income. Going after Iran's oil money will hit Tehran where it hurts, but it also means hitting a major pillar of the global oil market -- Iran is the OPEC cartel's third-largest producer -- with major consequences for world supply. Iran exported the equivalent of 2.5 million barrels a day in April, before the announcement of sanctions turned buyers away. "Even if the United States grants exemptions, Washington will demand that the volume imported from Iran be significantly reduced," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, who expects prices to rise. Exemptions However, oil prices have fallen by nearly $15 in less than a month, after peaking in early October at their highest level in two and a half years, with a barrel of Brent at over $85. Part of the explanation lies in the ambiguous position of the US, which initially insisted that the sanctions were designed to reduce Iranian exports to zero barrels, but has since has softened its position. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced exemptions for eight countries, without naming them. Turkey indicated that it was one of them and analysts believe that India, one of the world's largest importers, is also on the list, which will be published on Monday. "India said to the US that they can't stop before March, they are facing a major currency crisis," explained Joel Hancock, analyst at Natixis. Consumer confidence in the US itself could also suffer if rising oil prices translate into higher prices at the pump. "If prices start to rise again or another major producer has difficulties, it could put pressure on the US and lead to new exemptions," said Fabiani. Saudi uncertainty The other major oil producing countries are expected to ramp up production to try and compensate for Iran's anticipated decline in output. But in doing so, they run the risk of hampering their ability to react to any future crises. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, has claimed that it can respond to the Iranian shortfall, but some market players are wondering whether the kingdom is exhausting its capacities. "Saudi Arabia can produce 12 million barrels a day, but only if it invests," said Hancock, noting that the country currently produces just under 11 million barrels a day. He believes that Riyadh can currently only rely on 300,000 barrels per day of spare capacity, the extraction of which can be launched in fewer than 30 days. "The mantra right now is to go to Saudi Arabia but its exports have remained flat at around 10 or 10.2 million barrels a day," said Samir Madani, an analyst at Tanker Trackers, which specialises in satellite tanker tracking. "The big increase right now is Iraq at 4.2 million, which I've never seen before," he added. The US, which is in the process of becoming the world's leading producer thanks to its shale oil operations, could meet part of the demand, but lacks export capacity, said the analyst.

Oil market on alert as Iran sanctions hit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday hailed US leader Donald Trump for reimposing sanctions against mutual foe Iran, ahead of a fresh round of penalties set to kick in Monday.&nbsp;

"Thank you, President Trump, for this historic move. The sanctions are indeed coming," Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.&nbsp;

"For years I've been calling for sanctions to be fully reimposed against Iran's murderous terrorist regime, which threatens the entire world."

Trump announced in May he was withdrawing the US from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposing sanctions, sparking outrage among world powers who say Tehran has been complying with commitments to restrict its atomic programme.

On Friday, Washington confirmed it was going ahead with a second round of sanctions set to take effect on Monday.&nbsp;

Netanyahu said the effect of the first round of sanctions reintroduced in August "were already being felt".

"The riyal has plummeted, Iran's economy is depressed and the results are evident," he said.&nbsp;

The European Union, France, Britain and Germany -- all signatories to the 2015 deal with Iran -- have condemned the US move to renew its sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

Washington says it wants a new deal with Tehran, curtailing its regional interventions and missile programme -- demands which have been flatly rejected by Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday hailed US leader Donald Trump for reimposing sanctions against mutual foe Iran, ahead of a fresh round of penalties set to kick in Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday hailed US leader Donald Trump for reimposing sanctions against mutual foe Iran, ahead of a fresh round of penalties set to kick in Monday. "Thank you, President Trump, for this historic move. The sanctions are indeed coming," Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. "For years I've been calling for sanctions to be fully reimposed against Iran's murderous terrorist regime, which threatens the entire world." Trump announced in May he was withdrawing the US from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposing sanctions, sparking outrage among world powers who say Tehran has been complying with commitments to restrict its atomic programme. On Friday, Washington confirmed it was going ahead with a second round of sanctions set to take effect on Monday. Netanyahu said the effect of the first round of sanctions reintroduced in August "were already being felt". "The riyal has plummeted, Iran's economy is depressed and the results are evident," he said. The European Union, France, Britain and Germany -- all signatories to the 2015 deal with Iran -- have condemned the US move to renew its sanctions on Iran. Washington says it wants a new deal with Tehran, curtailing its regional interventions and missile programme -- demands which have been flatly rejected by Iran.

Israel's Netanyahu hails Trump for Iran sanctions

Wendy Burke has had enough. Campaign advertisements bombard her favourite TV shows. Dozens of election pamphlets fill her mailbox. Every day, she gets several political calls on her cell phone and more on her landline. Strangers knock at her door seeking her vote.

"It's ridiculous," Burke, 47, said outside a shopping centre in Palmdale, California. "I've had to block my calls."

Welcome to the most expensive race in the hard-fought battle between Republicans and Democrats for control of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives, which will be decided in Tuesday's elections.

The blizzard of spending in California's 25th district, a region stretching north and east of Los Angeles into the high desert of the Antelope Valley, stands out even during the most expensive congressional elections in US&nbsp;history.

Most of the money is funnelled into non-stop advertising - on TV, radio, social media, yard signs, automated robocalls to cell phones and land lines, bumper stickers and a deluge of pamphlets stuffed into mailboxes.

"The mailers go in the trash," she said. "I can’t wait until this whole thing is over."The contest, a top Democratic target, has drawn more than $26 million in spending by candidates and outside groups since January 2017, according to a Reuters analysis of Federal Election Commission (FEC) data.

It leads the 10 priciest House races, where a total of $238 million has been spent.

Democrats - aiming to pick up the 23 House seats and two in the Senate needed to control Congress and block much of Republican President Donald Trump's agenda and increase oversight of his administration - have far outpaced their opponents in spending.

Democrats and their allies in the 10 costliest House races spent $142 million to Republicans' $96 million, Reuters' analysis found.

The fight for the Senate is even costlier.

In Florida, Republican Rick Scott's contest against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is the most expensive Senate race. The candidates and their allies have spent nearly $160 million. Nelson's campaign spent about $25 million while outside groups splashed out $45 million supporting him or opposing Scott, who spent nearly $67 million. Outside groups spent $22 million supporting him and opposing Nelson.

Missouri's Senate race between Democrat Claire McCaskill and Republican Josh Hawley is second most expensive at roughly $108 million. Texas is third at about $100 million.

All up, it is a record for a congressional midterm cycle. Candidates, political parties and outside groups are set to spend more than $5.2 billion on House and Senate contests combined, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.

The Democratic share of spending for the House swelled to 60 per cent this year, from 44 per cent in 2014, the previous midterm elections, said Sheila Krumholz, the centre's executive director.

One reason for the big spending: Trump.

"This is in no small part a referendum on the 2016 election, and it's been bolstered by the role of women, the #MeToo Movement, the Brett Kavanaugh nomination, and the fact that so many women are running," Krumholz said.

REPUBLICANS ON DEFENSE

Republicans are seeking re-election in nine of the 10 most expensive House races. The tenth is an open Republican seat. Each recorded spending of more than $20 million.

Four of the costliest races are in California. Contests in Washington, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, New York and Minnesota round out the list.

California's 25th district is one of the most competitive. Republicans have held the seat since 1992. But the past decade has seen an influx of newcomers priced out of the Los Angeles housing market, and now nearly 40 per cent of the district's 720,000 residents are Hispanic.

Democrats set their sights on taking the district after 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won it by seven points and a Republican, Representative Steve Knight, clinched another term by six points.

This year, Knight, 51, has been outraised and outspent by Democratic challenger Katie Hill, who previously ran a non-profit for the homeless and is seeking office for the first time.

Hill, 31, raised $7.3 million by mid-October, compared to the $2.4 million raised by Knight, according to FEC data. Hill has out-spent Knight $5.9 million to $2 million, with nearly three-quarters of her money going to advertising.

With money from outside groups factored in, more than $18 million has been spent on Hill's behalf, compared to about $8 million for Knight, Reuters found.

Independence USA PAC, almost entirely funded by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, has spent more than $4.5 million in ads supporting Hill.

The money helped the political newcomer blanket the district with her liberal message supporting a path to universal healthcare, an assault weapons ban and gay-and-lesbian rights.

That could prove a double-edged sword. District voter Burke said she had leaned toward Knight. Then the avalanche of Hill ads and mailers annoyed Burke so much it cemented her decision to cast her ballot for him.

Wendy Burke has had enough. Campaign advertisements bombard her favourite TV shows. Dozens of election pamphlets fill her mailbox. Every day, she gets several political calls on her cell phone and more on her landline.

Wendy Burke has had enough. Campaign advertisements bombard her favourite TV shows. Dozens of election pamphlets fill her mailbox. Every day, she gets several political calls on her cell phone and more on her landline. Strangers knock at her door seeking her vote. "It's ridiculous," Burke, 47, said outside a shopping centre in Palmdale, California. "I've had to block my calls." Welcome to the most expensive race in the hard-fought battle between Republicans and Democrats for control of the US House of Representatives, which will be decided in Tuesday's elections. The blizzard of spending in California's 25th district, a region stretching north and east of Los Angeles into the high desert of the Antelope Valley, stands out even during the most expensive congressional elections in US history. Most of the money is funnelled into non-stop advertising - on TV, radio, social media, yard signs, automated robocalls to cell phones and land lines, bumper stickers and a deluge of pamphlets stuffed into mailboxes. "The mailers go in the trash," she said. "I can’t wait until this whole thing is over."The contest, a top Democratic target, has drawn more than $26 million in spending by candidates and outside groups since January 2017, according to a Reuters analysis of Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. It leads the 10 priciest House races, where a total of $238 million has been spent. Democrats - aiming to pick up the 23 House seats and two in the Senate needed to control Congress and block much of Republican President Donald Trump's agenda and increase oversight of his administration - have far outpaced their opponents in spending. Democrats and their allies in the 10 costliest House races spent $142 million to Republicans' $96 million, Reuters' analysis found. The fight for the Senate is even costlier. In Florida, Republican Rick Scott's contest against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is the most expensive Senate race. The candidates and their allies have spent nearly $160 million. Nelson's campaign spent about $25 million while outside groups splashed out $45 million supporting him or opposing Scott, who spent nearly $67 million. Outside groups spent $22 million supporting him and opposing Nelson. Missouri's Senate race between Democrat Claire McCaskill and Republican Josh Hawley is second most expensive at roughly $108 million. Texas is third at about $100 million. All up, it is a record for a congressional midterm cycle. Candidates, political parties and outside groups are set to spend more than $5.2 billion on House and Senate contests combined, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. The Democratic share of spending for the House swelled to 60 per cent this year, from 44 per cent in 2014, the previous midterm elections, said Sheila Krumholz, the centre's executive director. One reason for the big spending: Trump. "This is in no small part a referendum on the 2016 election, and it's been bolstered by the role of women, the #MeToo Movement, the Brett Kavanaugh nomination, and the fact that so many women are running," Krumholz said. REPUBLICANS ON DEFENSE Republicans are seeking re-election in nine of the 10 most expensive House races. The tenth is an open Republican seat. Each recorded spending of more than $20 million. Four of the costliest races are in California. Contests in Washington, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, New York and Minnesota round out the list. California's 25th district is one of the most competitive. Republicans have held the seat since 1992. But the past decade has seen an influx of newcomers priced out of the Los Angeles housing market, and now nearly 40 per cent of the district's 720,000 residents are Hispanic. Democrats set their sights on taking the district after 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won it by seven points and a Republican, Representative Steve Knight, clinched another term by six points. This year, Knight, 51, has been outraised and outspent by Democratic challenger Katie Hill, who previously ran a non-profit for the homeless and is seeking office for the first time. Hill, 31, raised $7.3 million by mid-October, compared to the $2.4 million raised by Knight, according to FEC data. Hill has out-spent Knight $5.9 million to $2 million, with nearly three-quarters of her money going to advertising. With money from outside groups factored in, more than $18 million has been spent on Hill's behalf, compared to about $8 million for Knight, Reuters found. Independence USA PAC, almost entirely funded by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, has spent more than $4.5 million in ads supporting Hill. The money helped the political newcomer blanket the district with her liberal message supporting a path to universal healthcare, an assault weapons ban and gay-and-lesbian rights. That could prove a double-edged sword. District voter Burke said she had leaned toward Knight. Then the avalanche of Hill ads and mailers annoyed Burke so much it cemented her decision to cast her ballot for him.

US midterms: Non-stop ads and robocalls, welcome to America's costliest election

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6.

But&nbsp;oddly enough, millions of Hispanic voters do not appear set on taking revenge at the polls: no surveys indicate a Latino wave to turf Republicans out of Congress come Tuesday.

What's going on? According to experts, Trump's repeated insults and bullying haven't had the effect of pushing Latinos toward the Democrat party -- rather they have driven them from voting at all.

"In 2016 many analysts had pointed to then-candidate Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants and Hispanics as perhaps being a motivator to get Latinos to the polls," said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of global migration and demography research at Pew Research Center.&nbsp; But in reality, he says, "the turnout fell."

And 30 per cent of all Hispanics ended up in fact voting for Trump.&nbsp;

There are 29 million Hispanics registered to vote in the midterm elections, where all 435 seats from the House of Representatives are up for grabs, one-third of the Senate, the governors of 36 states and numerous local officials including judges, sheriffs and attorneys general.

Burned by their failures to accurately predict the 2016 presidential vote, many analysts are striking a more cautious note.

"It remains to be seen what will happen this year. Latinos may be more interested in voting but there are many indications that perhaps the turnout rate may not rise much compared to 2014," said Lopez.&nbsp;

When midterms were held that year the turnout rate was only 27 percent for the demographic -- a history low, according to Pew Research.

Veterans and Evangelicals

It ends up being a vicious circle: the fewer Latinos are mobilized, the less the major political parties spend gearing their platforms to address the community's concerns.

And the less the major parties care, the more apathy spreads. To be sure, Latinos are generally more inclined toward the center-left Democrats,&nbsp;but the party "is not doing enough outreach" with the group, says Christine Marie Sierra, Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of New Mexico.&nbsp;

"We continue to hear about all they have to reach out to the white-working class voters or white women in some suburbs," she continued.&nbsp;

"Well that's fine. You can reach out to them but that's not where your base is. For the Democrats their base is in communities of color.

"They've got to invest a whole lot more to especially with Latinos to overcome the lack of participation."

According to the non-profit Latino Decisions, 63 percent of registered Hispanic voters say they plan to vote. But more than half of them were not contacted by any candidate in their constituency.

"Those voters that are contacted more are more likely to vote and those that are impacted less or not at all are less likely to vote," emphasized David Ayon of Latino Decisions.

Complicating matters further is the Latino vote is far from a monolithic bloc but instead a mosaic of diverse communities, with party affiliation not necessarily linked to country of origin, said Lopez.

Republicans, for example, can count on the overwhelming support of Cuban Americans, a community vehemently opposed to the Communist regime that rules the island. Military veterans and Evangelical migrants from Central America are likewise more likely to lean toward the Grand Old Party.

It sets the scene for some intriguing races. Will Mexican-born voters in Texas throw their weight behind Irish-American Beto O'Rourke over his Cuban-American rival and arch conservative Ted Cruz?&nbsp;

Will Puerto Ricans resettled in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria tip the scales for the Democrats in Florida? We will find out Tuesday.

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6.

Drug dealers, sexual predators, "poisonous snakes" blamed for all the ills plaguing US society: President Donald Trump has cast Latino immigrants as public enemy numero uno in his rallies and tweets in the run-up to November 6. But oddly enough, millions of Hispanic voters do not appear set on taking revenge at the polls: no surveys indicate a Latino wave to turf Republicans out of Congress come Tuesday. What's going on? According to experts, Trump's repeated insults and bullying haven't had the effect of pushing Latinos toward the Democrat party -- rather they have driven them from voting at all. "In 2016 many analysts had pointed to then-candidate Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants and Hispanics as perhaps being a motivator to get Latinos to the polls," said Mark Hugo Lopez, director of global migration and demography research at Pew Research Center. But in reality, he says, "the turnout fell." And 30 per cent of all Hispanics ended up in fact voting for Trump. There are 29 million Hispanics registered to vote in the midterm elections, where all 435 seats from the House of Representatives are up for grabs, one-third of the Senate, the governors of 36 states and numerous local officials including judges, sheriffs and attorneys general. Burned by their failures to accurately predict the 2016 presidential vote, many analysts are striking a more cautious note. "It remains to be seen what will happen this year. Latinos may be more interested in voting but there are many indications that perhaps the turnout rate may not rise much compared to 2014," said Lopez. When midterms were held that year the turnout rate was only 27 percent for the demographic -- a history low, according to Pew Research. Veterans and Evangelicals It ends up being a vicious circle: the fewer Latinos are mobilized, the less the major political parties spend gearing their platforms to address the community's concerns. And the less the major parties care, the more apathy spreads. To be sure, Latinos are generally more inclined toward the center-left Democrats, but the party "is not doing enough outreach" with the group, says Christine Marie Sierra, Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of New Mexico. "We continue to hear about all they have to reach out to the white-working class voters or white women in some suburbs," she continued. "Well that's fine. You can reach out to them but that's not where your base is. For the Democrats their base is in communities of color. "They've got to invest a whole lot more to especially with Latinos to overcome the lack of participation." According to the non-profit Latino Decisions, 63 percent of registered Hispanic voters say they plan to vote. But more than half of them were not contacted by any candidate in their constituency. "Those voters that are contacted more are more likely to vote and those that are impacted less or not at all are less likely to vote," emphasized David Ayon of Latino Decisions. Complicating matters further is the Latino vote is far from a monolithic bloc but instead a mosaic of diverse communities, with party affiliation not necessarily linked to country of origin, said Lopez. Republicans, for example, can count on the overwhelming support of Cuban Americans, a community vehemently opposed to the Communist regime that rules the island. Military veterans and Evangelical migrants from Central America are likewise more likely to lean toward the Grand Old Party. It sets the scene for some intriguing races. Will Mexican-born voters in Texas throw their weight behind Irish-American Beto O'Rourke over his Cuban-American rival and arch conservative Ted Cruz? Will Puerto Ricans resettled in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria tip the scales for the Democrats in Florida? We will find out Tuesday.

US midterm polls 2018: Will Trump's America wake up Latino vote in midterms?

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will likely make a deal with China on trade, adding that a lot of progress had been made to resolve the two countries' differences but warning that he still may impose more tariffs on Chinese goods.

"China very much wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters in Washington just hours after his top economic adviser expressed caution about talk of a possible US-China trade agreement.

"We've had a very good discussions with China, we're getting much closer to doing something," Trump said before departing the White House for a campaign event.

"I spoke with President Xi (Jinping) yesterday. They very much want to make a deal," Trump said.

"I think we'll make a deal with China, and I think it will be a very fair deal for everybody, but it will be a good deal for the United States."

Trump said he will discuss trade with Xi when the two meet for dinner on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit at the end of November in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

His administration has demanded that Beijing make sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property protections, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and domestic market access, along with steps to reduce a US $375 billion US&nbsp;goods trade deficit with China.

Trump said a deal with China would also be good for Beijing.

"If we can open up China and make it fair, for the first time ever -- this should have done years ago by other presidents but it wasn't -- I am very much willing to do it. But China very much wants to make a deal," he said.

Trump's comments came a day after a phone call with Xi that he described as "very good.".

The president's remarks helped US&nbsp;stocks to trim their losses on a day that started with market optimism over a Bloomberg report quoting unnamed sources as saying that Trump had ordered his cabinet to draw up terms for a China trade deal.

But by midday, shares had turned negative, weighed down by Apple Inc.'s disappointing earnings forecast and comments from White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that he was less optimistic than previously about a deal between Washington and Beijing.

Kudlow, speaking on CNBC, contradicted the Bloomberg report and added: "There's no mass movement, there's no huge thing. We're not on the cusp of a deal."

One of China's vice commerce ministers Wang Bingnan said on Saturday the country is willing to resolve trade issues with the United States through mutually respectful talks and on an equal footing, similar to past comments from Beijing.

Trump administration officials have said US-China trade talks cannot resume until Beijing outlines specific actions it would take to meet US&nbsp;demands for sweeping changes to policies on technology transfers, industrial subsidies and market access.

Trump said that if a deal is not made with China, he could impose tariffs on another US $267 billion in Chinese imports into the United States, adding that China's economy had "been hit very hard" by previous US&nbsp;tariffs.

The United States has imposed tariffs on US $250 billion worth of Chinese goods so far, while China has retaliated with US $110 billion worth of tariffs on US&nbsp;goods.

The Trump administration also has taken action to hit the Chinese semiconductor industry, indicting two companies accused of stealing trade secrets and banning US&nbsp;software and equipment exports to one of them.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will likely make a deal with China on trade, adding that a lot of progress had been made to resolve the two countries' differences but warning that he still may impose more tariffs on Chinese goods.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will likely make a deal with China on trade, adding that a lot of progress had been made to resolve the two countries' differences but warning that he still may impose more tariffs on Chinese goods. "China very much wants to make a deal," Trump told reporters in Washington just hours after his top economic adviser expressed caution about talk of a possible US-China trade agreement. "We've had a very good discussions with China, we're getting much closer to doing something," Trump said before departing the White House for a campaign event. "I spoke with President Xi (Jinping) yesterday. They very much want to make a deal," Trump said. "I think we'll make a deal with China, and I think it will be a very fair deal for everybody, but it will be a good deal for the United States." Trump said he will discuss trade with Xi when the two meet for dinner on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit at the end of November in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His administration has demanded that Beijing make sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property protections, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and domestic market access, along with steps to reduce a US $375 billion US goods trade deficit with China. Trump said a deal with China would also be good for Beijing. "If we can open up China and make it fair, for the first time ever -- this should have done years ago by other presidents but it wasn't -- I am very much willing to do it. But China very much wants to make a deal," he said. Trump's comments came a day after a phone call with Xi that he described as "very good.". The president's remarks helped US stocks to trim their losses on a day that started with market optimism over a Bloomberg report quoting unnamed sources as saying that Trump had ordered his cabinet to draw up terms for a China trade deal. But by midday, shares had turned negative, weighed down by Apple Inc.'s disappointing earnings forecast and comments from White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that he was less optimistic than previously about a deal between Washington and Beijing. Kudlow, speaking on CNBC, contradicted the Bloomberg report and added: "There's no mass movement, there's no huge thing. We're not on the cusp of a deal." One of China's vice commerce ministers Wang Bingnan said on Saturday the country is willing to resolve trade issues with the United States through mutually respectful talks and on an equal footing, similar to past comments from Beijing. Trump administration officials have said US-China trade talks cannot resume until Beijing outlines specific actions it would take to meet US demands for sweeping changes to policies on technology transfers, industrial subsidies and market access. Trump said that if a deal is not made with China, he could impose tariffs on another US $267 billion in Chinese imports into the United States, adding that China's economy had "been hit very hard" by previous US tariffs. The United States has imposed tariffs on US $250 billion worth of Chinese goods so far, while China has retaliated with US $110 billion worth of tariffs on US goods. The Trump administration also has taken action to hit the Chinese semiconductor industry, indicting two companies accused of stealing trade secrets and banning US software and equipment exports to one of them.

Trump says 'I think we'll make a deal with China' on trade

With four days to save the Republican Party's grip on Congress -- and his own dominance of US politics -- Donald Trump unleashed his two main weapons Friday: boasts about the economy and fear-mongering over immigration.

Trump flew to West Virginia to host a campaign rally to ahead of another one in Indiana, then more on the weekend and Monday. Less than 24 hours earlier, he was in Missouri.

"It will be a very exciting five days," Trump said at the White House before departing on the Marine One helicopter.

Trump said his Republicans are in a good position ahead of Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming.

But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening Trump with the specter of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances.

The campaign trail Friday also saw arguably the one Democrat able to match Trump's sheer media star power -- his predecessor in the White House Barack Obama.

Obama, employing his trademark oratorical flourishes, spoke in Florida, where Democrats and Republicans are locked in a series of tight races, telling supporters to "cut through the lies, block out the noise."

"Out of this political darkness, I see a great awakening of citizenship all across the country," Obama said.

Celebration and fear&nbsp;

Trump, who has brought an unprecedented brand of populism and confrontational politics to the White House, clearly enjoys a fight.

Friday's job figures gave him a golden opportunity to crow over what he near daily claims to be the world's "hottest economy."

"Wow! The U.S. added 250,000 Jobs in October - and this was despite the hurricanes,"&nbsp;Trump heralded in a typically high-energy tweet. "Unemployment at 3.7%. Wages UP! These are incredible numbers. Keep it going, Vote Republican!"

Equally good news for Trump and his bid to spread that elusive voter feelgood factor was that wages appear to be strengthening -- a sign that average Americans may be enjoying the fruits of economic growth.

He also signaled that a budding trade war with China -- which he says will force Beijing to drop what Washington has long considered unfair barriers and theft of intellectual property -- will end with "a very good deal."

"We are getting much closer to doing something," he said.

Scorched earth

But if on one hand the president touts the United States as a land of plenty, with jobs for all, on the other he's doing everything possible to stir fear and loathing.

Even as illegal immigration dips to a quarter of what it was in 2000, Trump claims that the country literally faces an "invasion" of Central Americans.

He has ordered regular army troops to the US-Mexican border, announced "tent cities" to detain people demanding political asylum and claimed power to scrap the right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil -- until now considered protected by the US Constitution.

Referring to a group of a few thousand impoverished Central Americans currently trying to walk to the United States through Mexico, Trump says the nation could be "overwhelmed."

On Thursday, he said that soldiers would respond to migrants throwing stones as if they were attacking with firearms -- suggesting that deadly force would be used.

He pulled back Friday, saying US troops "won't have to fire."

Another eye-catching moment has been Trump's tweet of a campaign ad starring a clip of a real-life illegal immigrant named Luis Bracamontes, who killed two sheriff's deputies in California in 2014 then laughingly bragged about the murders in court.

The ad, seeking to underline Trump's repeated argument that the Democrats will encourage hardened criminals into the country, says Democrats allowed Bracamontes to enter the US and "Democrats let him stay."

The Sacramento Bee newspaper in California reported, however, that records show the cop killer was deported before sneaking back into the country -- under Republican President George W. Bush.

With four days to save the Republican Party's grip on Congress -- and his own dominance of US politics -- Donald Trump unleashed his two main weapons Friday: boasts about the economy and fear-mongering over immigration.

With four days to save the Republican Party's grip on Congress -- and his own dominance of US politics -- Donald Trump unleashed his two main weapons Friday: boasts about the economy and fear-mongering over immigration. Trump flew to West Virginia to host a campaign rally to ahead of another one in Indiana, then more on the weekend and Monday. Less than 24 hours earlier, he was in Missouri. "It will be a very exciting five days," Trump said at the White House before departing on the Marine One helicopter. Trump said his Republicans are in a good position ahead of Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming. But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening Trump with the specter of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances. The campaign trail Friday also saw arguably the one Democrat able to match Trump's sheer media star power -- his predecessor in the White House Barack Obama. Obama, employing his trademark oratorical flourishes, spoke in Florida, where Democrats and Republicans are locked in a series of tight races, telling supporters to "cut through the lies, block out the noise." "Out of this political darkness, I see a great awakening of citizenship all across the country," Obama said. Celebration and fear Trump, who has brought an unprecedented brand of populism and confrontational politics to the White House, clearly enjoys a fight. Friday's job figures gave him a golden opportunity to crow over what he near daily claims to be the world's "hottest economy." "Wow! The U.S. added 250,000 Jobs in October - and this was despite the hurricanes," Trump heralded in a typically high-energy tweet. "Unemployment at 3.7%. Wages UP! These are incredible numbers. Keep it going, Vote Republican!" Equally good news for Trump and his bid to spread that elusive voter feelgood factor was that wages appear to be strengthening -- a sign that average Americans may be enjoying the fruits of economic growth. He also signaled that a budding trade war with China -- which he says will force Beijing to drop what Washington has long considered unfair barriers and theft of intellectual property -- will end with "a very good deal." "We are getting much closer to doing something," he said. Scorched earth But if on one hand the president touts the United States as a land of plenty, with jobs for all, on the other he's doing everything possible to stir fear and loathing. Even as illegal immigration dips to a quarter of what it was in 2000, Trump claims that the country literally faces an "invasion" of Central Americans. He has ordered regular army troops to the US-Mexican border, announced "tent cities" to detain people demanding political asylum and claimed power to scrap the right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil -- until now considered protected by the US Constitution. Referring to a group of a few thousand impoverished Central Americans currently trying to walk to the United States through Mexico, Trump says the nation could be "overwhelmed." On Thursday, he said that soldiers would respond to migrants throwing stones as if they were attacking with firearms -- suggesting that deadly force would be used. He pulled back Friday, saying US troops "won't have to fire." Another eye-catching moment has been Trump's tweet of a campaign ad starring a clip of a real-life illegal immigrant named Luis Bracamontes, who killed two sheriff's deputies in California in 2014 then laughingly bragged about the murders in court. The ad, seeking to underline Trump's repeated argument that the Democrats will encourage hardened criminals into the country, says Democrats allowed Bracamontes to enter the US and "Democrats let him stay." The Sacramento Bee newspaper in California reported, however, that records show the cop killer was deported before sneaking back into the country -- under Republican President George W. Bush.

US midterm polls 2018: Trump pushes economic hope, immigrant fear in election final run

The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressure the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week.

The aim is to cripple the Iranian economy to pressure Tehran to halt its nuclear activities and what the US says is broad support for “terrorism” in the region, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

The reimposition of sanctions “is aimed at depriving the regime of the revenues it uses to spread death and destruction around the world,” Pompeo explained.

“Our ultimate aim is to compel Iran to permanently abandon its well-documented outlaw activities and behave as a normal country.”

President Trump tweeted what looks like a movie-style poster that takes creative inspiration from the TV series “Game of Thrones” to announce the reimposition of sanctions against Iran.

He tweeted a photo of himself with the words “Sanctions are Coming”.

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<a href="https://t.co/nk2vKvHuaL">pic.twitter.com/nk2vKvHuaL</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1058388700617498625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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However, eight countries will be able to continue importing Iranian oil at lower levels in order to avoid upsetting global crude markets when the sanctions take effect on Monday, the US later said.

The sanctions come six months after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal struck between world powers and Iran.

At the time, he began reimposing sanctions that had been suspended or removed by his predecessor Barack Obama.

That process will be completed starting from midnight Sunday, US eastern time, when sanctions on the regime’s banks, shippers, shipbuilders and oil sector are imposed.

The impact remains in question as other countries, particularly Washington’s European allies, resist joining its effort to economically strangle the Tehran regime.

The European Union has gone so far as to protect businesses that operate in Iran. It has announced plans for a legal framework through which firms can skirt US sanctions, although few major corporations have been eager to risk the wrath of penalties in the world’s largest economy.

“This is not 2012 when the world was united behind sanctions against Iran. This is the Trump administration trying to force the rest of the world to go along with a policy that most countries do not accept,” said Barbara Slavin, an Iran expert at the Washington-based Atlantic Council.

“The US has had some success in terms of frightening away major corporations. The sanctions hurt a lot. But Iran is still going to be able to sell oil,” especially to China, she said.

OIL TRADE EXEMPTIONS

Pompeo said the US will grant exemptions to eight countries that have pledged to or have already cut back on purchases of petroleum from Iran, which has long depended on crude exports to power its economy.

He did not name the eight countries, but they are believed to include India, Japan, South Korea, and possibly China.

Pompeo said the countries agreed that the payments for the oil will go into offshore accounts that Iran will only be able to tap for “humanitarian trade, or bilateral trade in non-sanctioned goods and services.”

“Maximum pressure means maximum pressure,” he said.

To punish Iranian banks, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the global financial network SWIFT — which enables secure bank-to-bank communications and transactions — will also be subject to US sanctions if it provides services to Iranian financial institutions on the US blacklist, which includes most major Iranian banks.

That could make it very hard for Iran to do business with other countries.

“SWIFT is no different than any other entity,”&nbsp;Mnuchin said.

US OBJECTIVE IN QUESTION

Justifying the action,&nbsp;Pompeo has issued a list of demands for Iran that go well beyond the nuclear program that was the focus of&nbsp;Obama’s deal.

He wants the Shiite clerical regime to withdraw from war-ravaged Syria, where it is a critical ally of President Bashar al-Assad, and to end longstanding support to regional militant movements Hezbollah and Hamas.

The US also wants Iran to stop backing Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who are facing a US-supported air campaign led by Saudi Arabia.

But experts don’t expect Iran’s leaders to immediately throw in the towel.

“It’s basically magical thinking. The Iranians have been able to continue their support to regional proxies and allies for 40 years despite economic pressure,” said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

He said the Trump administration believed that a constrained, struggling Iran would see its influence erode. But the final goal, he said, was unclear.

“I think the endgame depends on who you’re asking. The president himself is interested in having a broader, better deal with the Iranians, but I believe that most of his national security team are interested in either destabilising Iran or assuring a regime change in Tehran,” Mr Vaez said.

The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressure the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week.

The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressure the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week. The aim is to cripple the Iranian economy to pressure Tehran to halt its nuclear activities and what the US says is broad support for “terrorism” in the region, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. The reimposition of sanctions “is aimed at depriving the regime of the revenues it uses to spread death and destruction around the world,” Pompeo explained. “Our ultimate aim is to compel Iran to permanently abandon its well-documented outlaw activities and behave as a normal country.” President Trump tweeted what looks like a movie-style poster that takes creative inspiration from the TV series “Game of Thrones” to announce the reimposition of sanctions against Iran. He tweeted a photo of himself with the words “Sanctions are Coming”. pic.twitter.com/nk2vKvHuaL — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2018 × However, eight countries will be able to continue importing Iranian oil at lower levels in order to avoid upsetting global crude markets when the sanctions take effect on Monday, the US later said. The sanctions come six months after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal struck between world powers and Iran. At the time, he began reimposing sanctions that had been suspended or removed by his predecessor Barack Obama. That process will be completed starting from midnight Sunday, US eastern time, when sanctions on the regime’s banks, shippers, shipbuilders and oil sector are imposed. The impact remains in question as other countries, particularly Washington’s European allies, resist joining its effort to economically strangle the Tehran regime. The European Union has gone so far as to protect businesses that operate in Iran. It has announced plans for a legal framework through which firms can skirt US sanctions, although few major corporations have been eager to risk the wrath of penalties in the world’s largest economy. “This is not 2012 when the world was united behind sanctions against Iran. This is the Trump administration trying to force the rest of the world to go along with a policy that most countries do not accept,” said Barbara Slavin, an Iran expert at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. “The US has had some success in terms of frightening away major corporations. The sanctions hurt a lot. But Iran is still going to be able to sell oil,” especially to China, she said. OIL TRADE EXEMPTIONS Pompeo said the US will grant exemptions to eight countries that have pledged to or have already cut back on purchases of petroleum from Iran, which has long depended on crude exports to power its economy. He did not name the eight countries, but they are believed to include India, Japan, South Korea, and possibly China. Pompeo said the countries agreed that the payments for the oil will go into offshore accounts that Iran will only be able to tap for “humanitarian trade, or bilateral trade in non-sanctioned goods and services.” “Maximum pressure means maximum pressure,” he said. To punish Iranian banks, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the global financial network SWIFT — which enables secure bank-to-bank communications and transactions — will also be subject to US sanctions if it provides services to Iranian financial institutions on the US blacklist, which includes most major Iranian banks. That could make it very hard for Iran to do business with other countries. “SWIFT is no different than any other entity,” Mnuchin said. US OBJECTIVE IN QUESTION Justifying the action, Pompeo has issued a list of demands for Iran that go well beyond the nuclear program that was the focus of Obama’s deal. He wants the Shiite clerical regime to withdraw from war-ravaged Syria, where it is a critical ally of President Bashar al-Assad, and to end longstanding support to regional militant movements Hezbollah and Hamas. The US also wants Iran to stop backing Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who are facing a US-supported air campaign led by Saudi Arabia. But experts don’t expect Iran’s leaders to immediately throw in the towel. “It’s basically magical thinking. The Iranians have been able to continue their support to regional proxies and allies for 40 years despite economic pressure,” said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. He said the Trump administration believed that a constrained, struggling Iran would see its influence erode. But the final goal, he said, was unclear. “I think the endgame depends on who you’re asking. The president himself is interested in having a broader, better deal with the Iranians, but I believe that most of his national security team are interested in either destabilising Iran or assuring a regime change in Tehran,” Mr Vaez said.

'Sanctions are Coming', tweets Trump as US reimposes all sanctions on Iran

Former president Barack Obama on Friday decried as a "political stunt" Donald Trump's plan to send thousands of US soldiers to the Mexican border to block migrants from entering the country.

In a rousing speech to a Miami crowd as he campaigned for fellow Democrats ahead of next week's midterm elections, Obama said the Republican administration was "even taking our brave troops away from their families for a political stunt at the border."

Trump, who has placed immigration at the heart of his party's election effort, has persistently attacked the caravan of Central American migrants, denouncing it as a potential "invasion."&nbsp;

Trump announced earlier this week that he would send thousands of troops to the border to beef up national defenses at the border.

He has campaigned heavily on the issue, warning supporters Thursday that migrants would soon be "overwhelming your schools, your hospitals, your communities."

Obama said the deployment was serving to "get folks angry and ginned up," adding: "There's just constant fearmongering to distract from the record."&nbsp;

The nation's first African American commander in chief took the stage with Andrew Gillum, who is locked in a tight race for governor of Florida against pro-Trump Republican Ron DeSantis, and Senator Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election against outgoing Governor Rick Scott.

"Let's make history happen right here in Florida," Obama told jubilant supporters at the end of a speech that was occasionally interrupted by pro-Republican protesters.

Obama urged more decisive action by Americans who have grown frustrated by the first 21 months of Trump's presidency.

"If you don't like what's going on right now, don't just complain," Obama said.&nbsp;

"Don't get anxious and freaked out, don't throw up your hands in despair. Don't boo. Don't hashtag. Vote!"

In the home stretch of a campaign marked by a recent deadly anti-Semitic attack and the interception of parcel bombs sent to prominent Democrats including Obama, the former president called for defending "the values that bind us to our fellow citizens, no matter who we are."

But he also drilled down on core Democratic issues for the 2018 campaign, like health care and preserving protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

Obama, architect of the Obamacare health reforms that he signed into law in 2010, took Republicans to task for "suddenly" saying they will protect pre-existing conditions coverage despite seeking to pass legislation to do away with such protections.

"Let's call it what it is. It's a lie. They're lying to you," Obama said.

Americans on Tuesday will elect lawmakers for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, 36 governors and dozens of state legislatures.

Former president Barack Obama on Friday decried as a "political stunt" Donald Trump's plan to send thousands of US soldiers to the Mexican border to block migrants from entering the country.

Former president Barack Obama on Friday decried as a "political stunt" Donald Trump's plan to send thousands of US soldiers to the Mexican border to block migrants from entering the country. In a rousing speech to a Miami crowd as he campaigned for fellow Democrats ahead of next week's midterm elections, Obama said the Republican administration was "even taking our brave troops away from their families for a political stunt at the border." Trump, who has placed immigration at the heart of his party's election effort, has persistently attacked the caravan of Central American migrants, denouncing it as a potential "invasion." Trump announced earlier this week that he would send thousands of troops to the border to beef up national defenses at the border. He has campaigned heavily on the issue, warning supporters Thursday that migrants would soon be "overwhelming your schools, your hospitals, your communities." Obama said the deployment was serving to "get folks angry and ginned up," adding: "There's just constant fearmongering to distract from the record." The nation's first African American commander in chief took the stage with Andrew Gillum, who is locked in a tight race for governor of Florida against pro-Trump Republican Ron DeSantis, and Senator Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election against outgoing Governor Rick Scott. "Let's make history happen right here in Florida," Obama told jubilant supporters at the end of a speech that was occasionally interrupted by pro-Republican protesters. Obama urged more decisive action by Americans who have grown frustrated by the first 21 months of Trump's presidency. "If you don't like what's going on right now, don't just complain," Obama said. "Don't get anxious and freaked out, don't throw up your hands in despair. Don't boo. Don't hashtag. Vote!" In the home stretch of a campaign marked by a recent deadly anti-Semitic attack and the interception of parcel bombs sent to prominent Democrats including Obama, the former president called for defending "the values that bind us to our fellow citizens, no matter who we are." But he also drilled down on core Democratic issues for the 2018 campaign, like health care and preserving protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Obama, architect of the Obamacare health reforms that he signed into law in 2010, took Republicans to task for "suddenly" saying they will protect pre-existing conditions coverage despite seeking to pass legislation to do away with such protections. "Let's call it what it is. It's a lie. They're lying to you," Obama said. Americans on Tuesday will elect lawmakers for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the 100-member Senate, 36 governors and dozens of state legislatures.

Obama brands Trump's border deployment plan a 'political stunt'

Former US President Barack Obama warned on Friday against rhetoric he said was meant to sow fear as he campaigned in support of Democratic candidates while President Donald Trump hammered a hardline anti-immigration message to energize Republicans.

In a packed day of campaigning ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, Trump continued a blitz of rallies urging voters to keep his Republican Party in control of Congress, while Democrats appeared to notch a win in their efforts to halt the spread of misinformation online.

Twitter Inc said it had deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s elections and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company.

The removals took place in late September and early October.

Obama hit on a common theme of Democratic campaigns - defending his signature 2010 healthcare law, while urging Americans not to embrace hostility and division in politics.

"We have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful," Obama said in Miami. "But in four days, Florida, you can be a check on that kind of behaviour."

Obama was flanked by gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who faces former congressman and strong Trump backer Ron DeSantis, and Senator Bill Nelson, who is being challenged by the outgoing governor, Rick Scott.

Trump's campaign stops were aimed at bolstering Republicans challenging incumbent Democratic senators in West Virginia and Indiana, states he won in the 2016 presidential election.

Speaking on behalf of Mike Braun, who is trying to replace Joe Donnelly in the Senate, Trump told a rally in Indianapolis:

“If you want prosperity for your family, safety for your children and security for your country, vote for Mike Braun.”

Trump was joined on stage by former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, who led the crowd in a cheer “Go get’em Donald.”

Opinion polls and non-partisan forecasters generally show Democrats with strong chances of winning 23 additional seats and taking a majority in the House of Representatives, which they could use to launch investigations into Trump's administration and block his legislative agenda.

Republicans are favoured to retain control of the Senate, whose powers include confirming Trump's nominations to lifetime seats on the Supreme Court.

Obama's speech was repeatedly interrupted by hecklers, prompting him to quip: "Why is it that the folks who won the last election are so mad all the time?"

SURGING EARLY VOTING

Interest in the election has been unusually high in a year when Congress but not the White House is at stake, according to early voting tallies. Twenty-seven states plus the District of Columbia have recorded more early votes at this point in the campaign than they did in all of 2014, according to The Election Project at the University of Florida, which tracks turnout.

Texas had already recorded more votes than it did in all of 2014, including Election Day, the group said.

After Miami, Obama was headed to Georgia to campaign for Stacey Abrams, a former state legislator aiming to become the nation's first black female governor.

That race pitting Abrams against Republican Brian Kemp, the state's top elections overseer, has become a flashpoint for allegations of voter suppression by Democrats due to the state's strict voter-identification law. Republicans say the law is necessary to deter voter fraud.

A federal judge on Friday ordered the state to allow some 3,000 recently naturalized citizens to vote after their registrations had been put on hold.

With the race neck and neck, voter turnout will be crucial, said Georgia State University political scientist Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey. Obama could energize Democratic voters and drive up turnout, she added.

"At this point it's going to be turnout," she said. "How can he mobilize those who are already registered to vote to go out and vote. And to tell their friends and families to vote."

The final weeks of the campaign have also seen a spate of violence including the massacre of 11 people at a Pennsylvania synagogue and more than a dozen package bombs sent to prominent Trump critics.

The FBI said on Friday it had recovered a suspicious package addressed to California billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democrat known for his ads calling for Trump's impeachment.

In West Virginia, Trump's third visit in three months was aimed at shoring up Patrick Morrisey, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.

Two new polls this week showed Manchin's once-comfortable lead over Morrisey dwindling to 5 percentage points, which the Democrat's supporters blame in part on Trump's repeated visits.

"I know Trump coming so often is making an impact," said Jim Hoyt, chairman of the Morgan County Democratic Party in northeast West Virginia. Like other Democrats in the state, he still expects Manchin to win.

Former US President Barack Obama warned on Friday against rhetoric he said was meant to sow fear as he campaigned in support of Democratic candidates while President Donald Trump hammered a hardline anti-immigration message to energize Republicans.

Former US President Barack Obama warned on Friday against rhetoric he said was meant to sow fear as he campaigned in support of Democratic candidates while President Donald Trump hammered a hardline anti-immigration message to energize Republicans. In a packed day of campaigning ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, Trump continued a blitz of rallies urging voters to keep his Republican Party in control of Congress, while Democrats appeared to notch a win in their efforts to halt the spread of misinformation online. Twitter Inc said it had deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s elections and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company. The removals took place in late September and early October. Obama hit on a common theme of Democratic campaigns - defending his signature 2010 healthcare law, while urging Americans not to embrace hostility and division in politics. "We have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful," Obama said in Miami. "But in four days, Florida, you can be a check on that kind of behaviour." Obama was flanked by gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who faces former congressman and strong Trump backer Ron DeSantis, and Senator Bill Nelson, who is being challenged by the outgoing governor, Rick Scott. Trump's campaign stops were aimed at bolstering Republicans challenging incumbent Democratic senators in West Virginia and Indiana, states he won in the 2016 presidential election. Speaking on behalf of Mike Braun, who is trying to replace Joe Donnelly in the Senate, Trump told a rally in Indianapolis: “If you want prosperity for your family, safety for your children and security for your country, vote for Mike Braun.” Trump was joined on stage by former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, who led the crowd in a cheer “Go get’em Donald.” Opinion polls and non-partisan forecasters generally show Democrats with strong chances of winning 23 additional seats and taking a majority in the House of Representatives, which they could use to launch investigations into Trump's administration and block his legislative agenda. Republicans are favoured to retain control of the Senate, whose powers include confirming Trump's nominations to lifetime seats on the Supreme Court. Obama's speech was repeatedly interrupted by hecklers, prompting him to quip: "Why is it that the folks who won the last election are so mad all the time?" SURGING EARLY VOTING Interest in the election has been unusually high in a year when Congress but not the White House is at stake, according to early voting tallies. Twenty-seven states plus the District of Columbia have recorded more early votes at this point in the campaign than they did in all of 2014, according to The Election Project at the University of Florida, which tracks turnout. Texas had already recorded more votes than it did in all of 2014, including Election Day, the group said. After Miami, Obama was headed to Georgia to campaign for Stacey Abrams, a former state legislator aiming to become the nation's first black female governor. That race pitting Abrams against Republican Brian Kemp, the state's top elections overseer, has become a flashpoint for allegations of voter suppression by Democrats due to the state's strict voter-identification law. Republicans say the law is necessary to deter voter fraud. A federal judge on Friday ordered the state to allow some 3,000 recently naturalized citizens to vote after their registrations had been put on hold. With the race neck and neck, voter turnout will be crucial, said Georgia State University political scientist Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey. Obama could energize Democratic voters and drive up turnout, she added. "At this point it's going to be turnout," she said. "How can he mobilize those who are already registered to vote to go out and vote. And to tell their friends and families to vote." The final weeks of the campaign have also seen a spate of violence including the massacre of 11 people at a Pennsylvania synagogue and more than a dozen package bombs sent to prominent Trump critics. The FBI said on Friday it had recovered a suspicious package addressed to California billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democrat known for his ads calling for Trump's impeachment. In West Virginia, Trump's third visit in three months was aimed at shoring up Patrick Morrisey, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. Two new polls this week showed Manchin's once-comfortable lead over Morrisey dwindling to 5 percentage points, which the Democrat's supporters blame in part on Trump's repeated visits. "I know Trump coming so often is making an impact," said Jim Hoyt, chairman of the Morgan County Democratic Party in northeast West Virginia. Like other Democrats in the state, he still expects Manchin to win.

US midterm polls 2018: Obama warns against fear, Trump touts economy on campaign trail

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