Americans head to the polls on Tuesday for midterm elections with President Donald Trump's Republican party seeking to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Midterm elections are often seen as a referendum on the president and there is no shortage of opinions this time around about the current occupant of the White House.

Turnout for midterm elections is traditionally lower than in presidential years, but the results could have dramatic implications for the United States, and in particular for Trump's legislative agenda.

Republicans are bracing for a likely loss of seats in the House of Representatives but are favored to hold on to the Senate.

House of Representatives&nbsp;

The House has 435 members with states represented on the basis of population. There are currently 236 Republicans, 193 Democrats and six vacancies.

All seats are contested every two years. The new congressional term begins in January 2019.

Republicans have controlled the House since the conservative Tea Party movement propelled the GOP to a wave election in November 2010.

The speaker of the house is Republican Paul Ryan, who is not seeking reelection from his home state of Wisconsin. Democrat and former speaker Nancy Pelosi serves as House minority leader.

Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to take control of the House.

Likely House outcome: Democrats take control.

Senate&nbsp;

The Senate consists of 100 members, two from each state. It is currently made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats.

With terms of six years, about a third of the Senate is up for election every two years. Thirty-five seats are in play in Tuesday's election.

Of the 35 seats up for grabs, 26 are held by Democrats and nine by Republicans.

The Senate majority leader is Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Likely Senate outcome: Republicans hold on to the Senate.

Governor races

Thirty-six of the 50 US states elect governors this year, including about 10 considered toss-ups.

Republicans currently control 29 governorships to 21 for the Democrats.

Two races which are of particular interest are Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is seeking to become the first black woman to become governor of a US state, and Florida, where Democrat Andrew Gillum is locked in a bitter battle with Republican and Trump acolyte Ron DeSantis.

Ballot measures&nbsp;

In addition to electing their lawmakers, Americans in several states will vote on ballot measures.

Among the notable initiatives:

- Five states are considering the legalization of medical or recreational marijuana.

- Minimum wage increases are on the ballot in two states.

- Access to abortion and abortion funding is on the ballot in three states.&nbsp;

The stakes&nbsp;

Besides stymieing the Trump agenda, a Democratic victory in the House could allow Democrats to launch multiple committee investigations of the Trump administration and possibly even impeachment proceedings.

Voter turnout&nbsp;

Around 37 percent of eligible voters took part in the 2014 midterm elections, down from 42 percent in 2010.

More than 60 percent of eligible voters took part in the 2016 vote, when the presidential race was on the ballot.

Americans head to the polls on Tuesday for midterm elections with President Donald Trump's Republican party seeking to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Americans head to the polls on Tuesday for midterm elections with President Donald Trump's Republican party seeking to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Midterm elections are often seen as a referendum on the president and there is no shortage of opinions this time around about the current occupant of the White House. Turnout for midterm elections is traditionally lower than in presidential years, but the results could have dramatic implications for the United States, and in particular for Trump's legislative agenda. Republicans are bracing for a likely loss of seats in the House of Representatives but are favored to hold on to the Senate. House of Representatives The House has 435 members with states represented on the basis of population. There are currently 236 Republicans, 193 Democrats and six vacancies. All seats are contested every two years. The new congressional term begins in January 2019. Republicans have controlled the House since the conservative Tea Party movement propelled the GOP to a wave election in November 2010. The speaker of the house is Republican Paul Ryan, who is not seeking reelection from his home state of Wisconsin. Democrat and former speaker Nancy Pelosi serves as House minority leader. Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to take control of the House. Likely House outcome: Democrats take control. Senate The Senate consists of 100 members, two from each state. It is currently made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. With terms of six years, about a third of the Senate is up for election every two years. Thirty-five seats are in play in Tuesday's election. Of the 35 seats up for grabs, 26 are held by Democrats and nine by Republicans. The Senate majority leader is Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Likely Senate outcome: Republicans hold on to the Senate. Governor races Thirty-six of the 50 US states elect governors this year, including about 10 considered toss-ups. Republicans currently control 29 governorships to 21 for the Democrats. Two races which are of particular interest are Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams is seeking to become the first black woman to become governor of a US state, and Florida, where Democrat Andrew Gillum is locked in a bitter battle with Republican and Trump acolyte Ron DeSantis. Ballot measures In addition to electing their lawmakers, Americans in several states will vote on ballot measures. Among the notable initiatives: - Five states are considering the legalization of medical or recreational marijuana. - Minimum wage increases are on the ballot in two states. - Access to abortion and abortion funding is on the ballot in three states. The stakes Besides stymieing the Trump agenda, a Democratic victory in the House could allow Democrats to launch multiple committee investigations of the Trump administration and possibly even impeachment proceedings. Voter turnout Around 37 percent of eligible voters took part in the 2014 midterm elections, down from 42 percent in 2010. More than 60 percent of eligible voters took part in the 2016 vote, when the presidential race was on the ballot.

What's at stake on November 6 in US midterm elections

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

Obama campaigns in Indiana for Senator Joe Donnelly

Latina actresses encourage voters in Miami

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

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

As the US midterm election enters the final stretch, many races are too close to call but most polls have Democrats seizing control of the House of Representatives and Republicans clinging on to the Senate.

President Donald Trump is ratcheting up the rhetoric and campaigning furiously as he seeks to hold on to the Republican majorities in the two chambers of Congress.

All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs on Tuesday while 35 seats in the 100-member Senate are at stake. Americans will vote for governor in 36 states.

Republicans have a slim 51-49 hold on the Senate, where Democrats have a tough hill to climb with 26 Democratic seats on the ballot and only nine Republican seats.

Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to take control of the House they lost in 2010 and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi boldly predicted this week they would do so.

"Democrats will carry the House," Pelosi said on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," while also forecasting victory in the Senate.

Political forecasting outlet FiveThirtyEight.com gives Democrats a 6 in 7, or 85 per cent, chance of gaining control of the House but only a 1 in 7, or 15 per cent, chance of winning the Senate.

As election day approaches and with turnout a major factor, Trump has sought to drive Republicans to the polls and rekindle the enthusiasm of his 2016 upset presidential bid.

"I'm not on the ticket, but I am on the ticket because this is also a referendum about me," he said at a rally last month in Mississippi. "Pretend I'm on the ballot."

Anti-immigration rhetoric

Trump has scheduled 10 campaign rallies over the next five days in eight states -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Trump has dialed up the rhetoric on immigration, issuing dire warnings about caravans of Central American migrants heading to the US southern border.

Claiming the caravans include "very bad thugs and gang members," Trump has ordered 5,000 active-duty troops to the border and said he is considering sending up to 15,000.

Trump also posted a political ad on his Twitter account on Wednesday which shows a Mexican man boasting about killing police officers and includes the caption "Democrats let him into the country."

Democrats accused the president of seeking to inflame his supporters with racist anti-immigration appeals.

"This is fear mongering," Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told CNN. "This has been Donald Trump's playbook for so long."

Control of the Senate will come down to a handful of races, in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, according to political analysts.

Tight Senate races

In Arizona, two women -- Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Representative Martha McSally, a former air force fighter pilot -- are battling to replace Senator Jeff Flake, a Trump critic who is not running for reelection. 538.com currently gives Sinema a slight edge.

In Florida, incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is involved in a tough reelection battle with Republican governor Rick Scott. 538.com has Nelson with a small lead.

In Missouri, 538.com gives incumbent Democratic Senator Clare McCaskill a 3-in-5 chance of holding off a stiff challenge from 38-year-old state attorney general Josh Hawley.

In other closely watched races, Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota is trailing in most polls and incumbent Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada is locked in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Jacky Rosen.

In reliably Republican Texas, Senator Ted Cruz is facing a surprisingly competitive challenge from rising Democratic star Beto O'Rourke but most polls give the edge to the Republican incumbent.

Two races for governor have drawn widespread attention.

In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams, former minority leader in the state House of Representatives, is seeking to become the first black woman to become governor of a US state.

And in Florida, the African-American mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, is in a bitter battle with a Trump acolyte, Republican Representative Ron DeSantis.

As the US midterm election enters the final stretch, many races are too close to call but most polls have Democrats seizing control of the House of Representatives and Republicans clinging on to the Senate.

As the US midterm election enters the final stretch, many races are too close to call but most polls have Democrats seizing control of the House of Representatives and Republicans clinging on to the Senate. President Donald Trump is ratcheting up the rhetoric and campaigning furiously as he seeks to hold on to the Republican majorities in the two chambers of Congress. All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs on Tuesday while 35 seats in the 100-member Senate are at stake. Americans will vote for governor in 36 states. Republicans have a slim 51-49 hold on the Senate, where Democrats have a tough hill to climb with 26 Democratic seats on the ballot and only nine Republican seats. Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to take control of the House they lost in 2010 and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi boldly predicted this week they would do so. "Democrats will carry the House," Pelosi said on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," while also forecasting victory in the Senate. Political forecasting outlet FiveThirtyEight.com gives Democrats a 6 in 7, or 85 per cent, chance of gaining control of the House but only a 1 in 7, or 15 per cent, chance of winning the Senate. As election day approaches and with turnout a major factor, Trump has sought to drive Republicans to the polls and rekindle the enthusiasm of his 2016 upset presidential bid. "I'm not on the ticket, but I am on the ticket because this is also a referendum about me," he said at a rally last month in Mississippi. "Pretend I'm on the ballot." Anti-immigration rhetoric Trump has scheduled 10 campaign rallies over the next five days in eight states -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Trump has dialed up the rhetoric on immigration, issuing dire warnings about caravans of Central American migrants heading to the US southern border. Claiming the caravans include "very bad thugs and gang members," Trump has ordered 5,000 active-duty troops to the border and said he is considering sending up to 15,000. Trump also posted a political ad on his Twitter account on Wednesday which shows a Mexican man boasting about killing police officers and includes the caption "Democrats let him into the country." Democrats accused the president of seeking to inflame his supporters with racist anti-immigration appeals. "This is fear mongering," Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told CNN. "This has been Donald Trump's playbook for so long." Control of the Senate will come down to a handful of races, in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, according to political analysts. Tight Senate races In Arizona, two women -- Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Representative Martha McSally, a former air force fighter pilot -- are battling to replace Senator Jeff Flake, a Trump critic who is not running for reelection. 538.com currently gives Sinema a slight edge. In Florida, incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is involved in a tough reelection battle with Republican governor Rick Scott. 538.com has Nelson with a small lead. In Missouri, 538.com gives incumbent Democratic Senator Clare McCaskill a 3-in-5 chance of holding off a stiff challenge from 38-year-old state attorney general Josh Hawley. In other closely watched races, Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota is trailing in most polls and incumbent Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada is locked in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Jacky Rosen. In reliably Republican Texas, Senator Ted Cruz is facing a surprisingly competitive challenge from rising Democratic star Beto O'Rourke but most polls give the edge to the Republican incumbent. Two races for governor have drawn widespread attention. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams, former minority leader in the state House of Representatives, is seeking to become the first black woman to become governor of a US state. And in Florida, the African-American mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, is in a bitter battle with a Trump acolyte, Republican Representative Ron DeSantis.

US midterm polls 2018: Democrats favoured to take House, Republicans to hold Senate

As American voters prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday (November 6), President Donald Trump is forefront on the minds of voters, even though he's not on the ballot.

While political analysts don't expect massive gains by Democrats, Trump and Republicans aren't taking any chances. In the week leading up to the election, Trump has scheduled rallies, sometimes as many as two a day, taking aim at hot-button issues such as immigration to motivate his base.

Voters in the Washington area spoke to Reuters about issues that are most important to them -- ranging from women's rights, immigration, health care, and the Supreme Court. All agree that voting and being a part of the democratic process is crucial.

David Butler is a financial planner in the Baltimore area, who enjoys fishing in the Chesapeake Bay after work. "I think everybody should vote and vote how they feel," he said. Butler believes the controversy surrounding the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh could spur conservative voters to the polls.

Stacie Lee Banks is the co-owner of a family floral design business in Washington. She believes that women have been undermined since Trump took office and hopes the political discourse will change if people vote in large numbers. But Banks is far from optimistic. "I feel kinda hopeless, a little hopeless or I feel a little bit of despair," she said. "I don't know if the other parts of the country are feeling the same way."

Women's groups have been focused on boosting voter turnout following Trump's election which drew massive protest crowds to Washington a day after his inauguration. Rallying points of sexual harassment, reproductive rights, Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, and a record number of female candidates running for office could all factor in.

Thu Tran is a naturalized US&nbsp;citizen who resides in Virginia. She left her native Vietnam in 1988 to escape repression from the communist government. She is also hopeful the results of the election will benefit women. "A lot of women (are) angry, but I think after the election, maybe something change," Tran told Reuters.

Richard Bell works at a seafood market in Baltimore and is troubled by the divisive and polarized nature of the current political climate. He looks to support candidates that will overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. Bell says the Democratic party has become "vicious" and admits debating politics on social media has damaged some of his friendships.

Democrats have focused much of their closing messaging on defending the 2010 Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, and its protection of insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Trump and Republicans have ramped up attention on immigration, including a caravan of migrants from Central America headed through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

Candidates from both major parties are urging their supporters to vote early and data shows record numbers of people have already voted.

As American voters prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday (November 6), President Donald Trump is forefront on the minds of voters, even though he's not on the ballot.

As American voters prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday (November 6), President Donald Trump is forefront on the minds of voters, even though he's not on the ballot. While political analysts don't expect massive gains by Democrats, Trump and Republicans aren't taking any chances. In the week leading up to the election, Trump has scheduled rallies, sometimes as many as two a day, taking aim at hot-button issues such as immigration to motivate his base. Voters in the Washington area spoke to Reuters about issues that are most important to them -- ranging from women's rights, immigration, health care, and the Supreme Court. All agree that voting and being a part of the democratic process is crucial. David Butler is a financial planner in the Baltimore area, who enjoys fishing in the Chesapeake Bay after work. "I think everybody should vote and vote how they feel," he said. Butler believes the controversy surrounding the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh could spur conservative voters to the polls. Stacie Lee Banks is the co-owner of a family floral design business in Washington. She believes that women have been undermined since Trump took office and hopes the political discourse will change if people vote in large numbers. But Banks is far from optimistic. "I feel kinda hopeless, a little hopeless or I feel a little bit of despair," she said. "I don't know if the other parts of the country are feeling the same way." Women's groups have been focused on boosting voter turnout following Trump's election which drew massive protest crowds to Washington a day after his inauguration. Rallying points of sexual harassment, reproductive rights, Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, and a record number of female candidates running for office could all factor in. Thu Tran is a naturalized US citizen who resides in Virginia. She left her native Vietnam in 1988 to escape repression from the communist government. She is also hopeful the results of the election will benefit women. "A lot of women (are) angry, but I think after the election, maybe something change," Tran told Reuters. Richard Bell works at a seafood market in Baltimore and is troubled by the divisive and polarized nature of the current political climate. He looks to support candidates that will overturn Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. Bell says the Democratic party has become "vicious" and admits debating politics on social media has damaged some of his friendships. Democrats have focused much of their closing messaging on defending the 2010 Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, and its protection of insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Trump and Republicans have ramped up attention on immigration, including a caravan of migrants from Central America headed through Mexico toward the U.S. border. Candidates from both major parties are urging their supporters to vote early and data shows record numbers of people have already voted.

What matters most? Voters sound off on US midterm elections

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress.

Young American activists, angry over President Donald Trump and a wave of deadly school shootings, had vowed to get their peers to the polls in unprecedented numbers. The initial turnout, along with the results of opinion polls, higher registration rates and increased absentee ballot requests, suggests their political enthusiasm has not waned.

"In fact, as we get closer, I think it’s only likely to increase," said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics.

That could be good news for Democrats, who need a younger, more diverse electorate to win some of their toughest races. Young voters are more likely to be Democratic, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found young Democrats are more likely than young Republicans to say they are certain to vote this year.

Initial estimates modeled from survey responses, voter registrations and other data show huge increases in early turnout of voters ages 18-29 compared with the last midterm elections in 2014.

In Republican-leaning Texas and Georgia, early and absentee voting by people under 30 has increased by more than 400 per cent, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic data firm tracking early voting nationwide.

In Florida and Arizona, ballots cast by young voters are up 131 per cent and 217 per cent, respectively, from 2014, TargetSmart's analysis shows.

In comparison, among voters ages 30-39, voting is up by 121 per cent in Florida and 172 per cent in Arizona, the analysis shows.

Those states feature some of this cycle's highest-profile races, including the progressive campaigns of Beto O'Rourke for a US&nbsp;Senate seat in Texas, and Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams for governor in Florida and Georgia, respectively.

Overall early voting in those four states has topped their 2014 levels, fueled by increased turnout across all ages. Young voters registered the biggest gains but still had the lowest turnout so far of any age group.

Early voting data does not reveal how someone voted and does not indicate what turnout will look like on Election Day.

Jesse Hunt, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Republicans should also benefit from the rising turnout of young voters due largely to the strong economy.

"Recent college graduates will see the best labour market in years thanks to the policies implemented by this Republican-led Congress, and those voters will be receptive to the Republican agenda," Hunt said.

Flummoxed by stamps

Beating the 2014 turnout is not that hard given how weak it was for young voters, said Daniel Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida who is tracking voting data.

"Youth are energized, but so is everyone else this election," he said.

In the 2014 midterm election, only about 16 per cent of adults ages 18-24 voted, compared with about 39 per cent of Americans overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Midterm elections in 1986 and 1994 marked the highest turnout for voters under 30 in recent decades at 21 per cent, census data shows.

"Younger voters have gotten registered," Smith said. "But it’s not like an automatic that they’re going to start voting."

Voting rights groups say they have been especially creative this year to get young voters to the polls.

NextGen America, founded by billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer, has targeted college campuses. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, the group made students “pinkie promise” to vote in exchange for ring pops and even helped carry boxes into residence halls on move-in day – while registering students to vote.

“Students aren’t apathetic,” said Rachel Clay, southeast regional coordinator for the Campus Vote Project. "They are often first-time voters, there are ID problems, they often don’t have a car, they have classes all day. Voting is treated as kind of a hassle, rather than being something to be excited about."

Enthusiasm high

There are signs this year could be different.

A Harvard poll released this week showed Americans under 30 are much more interested in voting than the past two midterm cycles.

Forty per cent of those polled said they would "definitely vote" in the upcoming elections, up from 27 per cent in 2010 and 26 per cent in 2014.

Della Volpe said actual turnout typically trails the polling data by the high-single digits, still putting this year's turnout on track to potentially surpass previous midterm cycles.

Both Democrats and Republicans indicated increased enthusiasm since the spring, with 54 per cent of Democrats intending to vote and 43 per cent of Republicans planning to do so.

"We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm we’re seeing across the country, but there’s a lot of work to be done," said Tyler Law, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Katelyn Dino, a junior at LaGrange College in Georgia, said Tuesday will mark the first time she votes in a non-presidential year. She plans to cast her ballot for Abrams.

"I am actually skipping school on November 6 to go vote," Dino said.

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress.

Early turnout by young voters has surged ahead of Tuesday's congressional midterm elections, powered by gains in states whose voters are pivotal to Democrats' chances of winning back control of the US Congress. Young American activists, angry over President Donald Trump and a wave of deadly school shootings, had vowed to get their peers to the polls in unprecedented numbers. The initial turnout, along with the results of opinion polls, higher registration rates and increased absentee ballot requests, suggests their political enthusiasm has not waned. "In fact, as we get closer, I think it’s only likely to increase," said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. That could be good news for Democrats, who need a younger, more diverse electorate to win some of their toughest races. Young voters are more likely to be Democratic, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found young Democrats are more likely than young Republicans to say they are certain to vote this year. Initial estimates modeled from survey responses, voter registrations and other data show huge increases in early turnout of voters ages 18-29 compared with the last midterm elections in 2014. In Republican-leaning Texas and Georgia, early and absentee voting by people under 30 has increased by more than 400 per cent, according to TargetSmart, a Democratic data firm tracking early voting nationwide. In Florida and Arizona, ballots cast by young voters are up 131 per cent and 217 per cent, respectively, from 2014, TargetSmart's analysis shows. In comparison, among voters ages 30-39, voting is up by 121 per cent in Florida and 172 per cent in Arizona, the analysis shows. Those states feature some of this cycle's highest-profile races, including the progressive campaigns of Beto O'Rourke for a US Senate seat in Texas, and Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams for governor in Florida and Georgia, respectively. Overall early voting in those four states has topped their 2014 levels, fueled by increased turnout across all ages. Young voters registered the biggest gains but still had the lowest turnout so far of any age group. Early voting data does not reveal how someone voted and does not indicate what turnout will look like on Election Day. Jesse Hunt, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Republicans should also benefit from the rising turnout of young voters due largely to the strong economy. "Recent college graduates will see the best labour market in years thanks to the policies implemented by this Republican-led Congress, and those voters will be receptive to the Republican agenda," Hunt said. Flummoxed by stamps Beating the 2014 turnout is not that hard given how weak it was for young voters, said Daniel Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida who is tracking voting data. "Youth are energized, but so is everyone else this election," he said. In the 2014 midterm election, only about 16 per cent of adults ages 18-24 voted, compared with about 39 per cent of Americans overall, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Midterm elections in 1986 and 1994 marked the highest turnout for voters under 30 in recent decades at 21 per cent, census data shows. "Younger voters have gotten registered," Smith said. "But it’s not like an automatic that they’re going to start voting." Voting rights groups say they have been especially creative this year to get young voters to the polls. NextGen America, founded by billionaire liberal activist Tom Steyer, has targeted college campuses. At the University of South Florida in Tampa, the group made students “pinkie promise” to vote in exchange for ring pops and even helped carry boxes into residence halls on move-in day – while registering students to vote. “Students aren’t apathetic,” said Rachel Clay, southeast regional coordinator for the Campus Vote Project. "They are often first-time voters, there are ID problems, they often don’t have a car, they have classes all day. Voting is treated as kind of a hassle, rather than being something to be excited about." Enthusiasm high There are signs this year could be different. A Harvard poll released this week showed Americans under 30 are much more interested in voting than the past two midterm cycles. Forty per cent of those polled said they would "definitely vote" in the upcoming elections, up from 27 per cent in 2010 and 26 per cent in 2014. Della Volpe said actual turnout typically trails the polling data by the high-single digits, still putting this year's turnout on track to potentially surpass previous midterm cycles. Both Democrats and Republicans indicated increased enthusiasm since the spring, with 54 per cent of Democrats intending to vote and 43 per cent of Republicans planning to do so. "We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm we’re seeing across the country, but there’s a lot of work to be done," said Tyler Law, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Katelyn Dino, a junior at LaGrange College in Georgia, said Tuesday will mark the first time she votes in a non-presidential year. She plans to cast her ballot for Abrams. "I am actually skipping school on November 6 to go vote," Dino said.

Young US voter turnout surges, but challenges linger

Minnesota's rural northeast has sent Democrats to the US&nbsp;Congress for all but two of the past 71 years, but its political shift can be seen in roadside billboards thanking Republican President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on imported steel.

The state's 8th District has become a rare bright spot on the map for congressional Republicans ahead of Tuesday's elections, made rosier thanks to the decision by three-term Democratic incumbent Rick Nolan not to run again after winning his last election in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point.

That has left Democrat Joe Radinovich trying to hold on to the region's miners and farmers.

Forecasts show Republican St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber with a good shot of flipping the district to the Republicans in a year Democrats are expected to easily pick up the additional 23 House of Representative seats they would need for a majority. Republicans, however, are favouredCHISHOLM to hold on to the Senate.

A former police officer, Stauber is running as a moderate Republican, focusing on promoting economic growth, supporting gun rights and expanding mining in the District's national parks. He has broken from his party to say he would not repeal the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare program, but praised Trump's tariffs.

"The steel dumping in this country should have been stopped decades ago. I'm happy the Trump administration has acted," Stauber, 52, said in a Tuesday night debate. "I know that those steel tariffs were good for the Iron Range and the families on the Iron Range."

A New York Times/Siena College poll taken October 11 to 14 showed Stauber ahead by 15 percentage points.

Iron range

Minnesota's Iron Range has all the making of "Trump Country" - a rugged, rural region studded with iron taconite mines that feed much of the nation's steel production. Highway billboards thank Trump for imposing 25 per cent tariffs on foreign steel.

Unhappy miners - including coal and iron ore workers - were a central piece of Trump's electoral coalition. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump's promises to revitalize the metals industry helped pave the way for wins in the former industrial heartlands of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Trump failed to win Minnesota, but carried its 8th District by 15 percentage points - flipping a district that voted for Democrats in the four previous presidential election cycles.

Brandy Fraser, 70, of Two Harbors, Minnesota, said she has raised a Democrat but became a Republican after watching the party move to the left.

Fraser said she liked Stauber's support of Trump's immigration platform, including building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and ending birthright citizenship.

"He's going to help do it," Fraser said.

'Underdog'

Radinovich, 32, has raised $1.9 million, while Stauber had raised $1.6 million, as of Oct. 17. Super PACs and other outside groups have tipped the balance for the Republican, pouring in about $6 million, compared with about $670,000 by Democratic outside groups.

"They have spent enough money against me to make us the underdog in this race," Radinovich told supporters on Tuesday night. "This isn't the first time in my life I've been an underdog."

Democrat Hillary Clinton did strongly in parts of the Iron Range in 2016 and Radinovich aims to generate enough enthusiasm in those areas to keep the district Democratic.

On Wednesday, two of his supporters, Cary Pershern, 40, and Dave Smith, 42, took a break from knocking on doors in Hibbing to grab lunch with Radinovich.

Dressed in a United Steel Workers jacket, Pershern said he had faced an uphill battle in persuading fellow miners who credit Trump for their current economic prosperity.

"You get both sides - people who are pro-Trump and think he did everything single-handedly, you also have people who know that these tariffs that are being put in are against the wrong countries," he said.

Minnesota's rural northeast has sent Democrats to the US Congress for all but two of the past 71 years, but its political shift can be seen in roadside billboards thanking Republican President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on imported steel.

Minnesota's rural northeast has sent Democrats to the US Congress for all but two of the past 71 years, but its political shift can be seen in roadside billboards thanking Republican President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on imported steel. The state's 8th District has become a rare bright spot on the map for congressional Republicans ahead of Tuesday's elections, made rosier thanks to the decision by three-term Democratic incumbent Rick Nolan not to run again after winning his last election in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point. That has left Democrat Joe Radinovich trying to hold on to the region's miners and farmers. Forecasts show Republican St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber with a good shot of flipping the district to the Republicans in a year Democrats are expected to easily pick up the additional 23 House of Representative seats they would need for a majority. Republicans, however, are favouredCHISHOLM to hold on to the Senate. A former police officer, Stauber is running as a moderate Republican, focusing on promoting economic growth, supporting gun rights and expanding mining in the District's national parks. He has broken from his party to say he would not repeal the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare program, but praised Trump's tariffs. "The steel dumping in this country should have been stopped decades ago. I'm happy the Trump administration has acted," Stauber, 52, said in a Tuesday night debate. "I know that those steel tariffs were good for the Iron Range and the families on the Iron Range." A New York Times/Siena College poll taken October 11 to 14 showed Stauber ahead by 15 percentage points. Iron range Minnesota's Iron Range has all the making of "Trump Country" - a rugged, rural region studded with iron taconite mines that feed much of the nation's steel production. Highway billboards thank Trump for imposing 25 per cent tariffs on foreign steel. Unhappy miners - including coal and iron ore workers - were a central piece of Trump's electoral coalition. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump's promises to revitalize the metals industry helped pave the way for wins in the former industrial heartlands of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Trump failed to win Minnesota, but carried its 8th District by 15 percentage points - flipping a district that voted for Democrats in the four previous presidential election cycles. Brandy Fraser, 70, of Two Harbors, Minnesota, said she has raised a Democrat but became a Republican after watching the party move to the left. Fraser said she liked Stauber's support of Trump's immigration platform, including building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and ending birthright citizenship. "He's going to help do it," Fraser said. 'Underdog' Radinovich, 32, has raised $1.9 million, while Stauber had raised $1.6 million, as of Oct. 17. Super PACs and other outside groups have tipped the balance for the Republican, pouring in about $6 million, compared with about $670,000 by Democratic outside groups. "They have spent enough money against me to make us the underdog in this race," Radinovich told supporters on Tuesday night. "This isn't the first time in my life I've been an underdog." Democrat Hillary Clinton did strongly in parts of the Iron Range in 2016 and Radinovich aims to generate enough enthusiasm in those areas to keep the district Democratic. On Wednesday, two of his supporters, Cary Pershern, 40, and Dave Smith, 42, took a break from knocking on doors in Hibbing to grab lunch with Radinovich. Dressed in a United Steel Workers jacket, Pershern said he had faced an uphill battle in persuading fellow miners who credit Trump for their current economic prosperity. "You get both sides - people who are pro-Trump and think he did everything single-handedly, you also have people who know that these tariffs that are being put in are against the wrong countries," he said.

Democrat struggles to keep hold on teetering Minnesota district

After two years on the sidelines, Democrats are hoping anger over gun control, healthcare and the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court will fuel a 'blue wave' in the midterm congressional elections on Tuesday (November 6).

"November is coming" has become a mantra for Democrats who will likely take control of the House of Representatives but are a longshot to take control of the Senate, according to Carroll Doherty, director of political research for the Pew Research Center.

While political analysts don't expect massive gains by Democrats, President Donald Trump and Republicans aren't taking any chances. In the week leading up to the election, Trump has scheduled rallies, sometimes as many as two a day, in states with tight congressional races.

To take control of the House, Democrats need to gain 23 seats held by Republicans. Historically, the party that holds the White House typically loses seats in the first congressional elections after a president's initial two years in office.

"You lose the midterm, we are going to go through nothing but fights. We are going to be fighting to keep what you have, they are going to want to take it away. You have to go out, we can't be complacent," Trump said.

In addition to stalling the Trump's legislative agenda, a Democrat-controlled House could examine everything from his long-elusive tax returns to possible business ties with Russia and conflicts of interest, congressional sources say.

While some Democrats have called for Trump's impeachment, the party's leadership have been more cautious --- and are reportedly waiting until the outcome of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US elections and possible Trump campaign collusion with Moscow

"The big question is do the Democrats have the discipline and unity to pull this off. Ordinarily, I'd be skeptical but I think there's enough anger on the part of Democrats against Donald Trump who they believe is destroying our democracy, that if they win the House, they will get their act together to launch disciplined investigations," Allan Lichtman, the author of 'The Case For Impeachment' and a history professor at American University, said.

Lichtman is quick to point out that only the House of Representatives has the power to introduce impeachment articles and that the guidelines are intentionally broad.

"It's a combined legal, moral and political judgment. It doesn't require an indictable crime. That's why the Constitution says high crimes and misdemeanors," Lichtman said.

Actions taken before entering office can also be taken into consideration, said Licthman.

In July, a group of Republicans introduced articles of impeachment to remove Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the federal probe of Russia's role in the 2016 election.

It was ultimately rejected by US House Speaker Paul Ryan.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi noted that Rosenstein was a Republican appointee and said the Republican lawmakers were undermining the judicial system with a politically motivated action.

Trump, in recent weeks has veered from his standard remarks to address the possibility of an impeachment.

"If you fight back today, it's called obstruction. No no no. We fight back. Call it whatever the hell you want. We fight back," Trump said.

At rally in Rochester, Minnesota, Trump speculated about Pelosi becoming the next Speaker of the House, adding, "Don't do that to me."

Both Republicans and Democrats have reported high levels of enthusiasm for the upcoming midterm elections -- a fact Doherty believes is linked to the strong feelings on both sides about Trump. While midterm elections historically have low turnout, Doherty believes the unusually high levels of enthusiasm could result in a large turnout.

At rallies across the country, Trump has urged supporters not to be "complacent."

"Democrat sanctuary cities release violent criminals from jail and straight into your neighborhoods," Trump told supporters told a rally in Houston.

In West Virginia, he warned that a "Democrat-controlled Senate will try to take away your Second Amendment. They're going to take it away."

At another rally, Trump warned, "bad things will happen if you sit home."

"Trump knows that his opponents are motivated by anger and fear. He's trying to do the same with his base. And that's where the midterm elections will be decided," Lichtman said.

After two years on the sidelines, Democrats are hoping anger over gun control, healthcare and the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court will fuel a 'blue wave' in the midterm congressional elections on Tuesday (November 6).

After two years on the sidelines, Democrats are hoping anger over gun control, healthcare and the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court will fuel a 'blue wave' in the midterm congressional elections on Tuesday (November 6). "November is coming" has become a mantra for Democrats who will likely take control of the House of Representatives but are a longshot to take control of the Senate, according to Carroll Doherty, director of political research for the Pew Research Center. While political analysts don't expect massive gains by Democrats, President Donald Trump and Republicans aren't taking any chances. In the week leading up to the election, Trump has scheduled rallies, sometimes as many as two a day, in states with tight congressional races. To take control of the House, Democrats need to gain 23 seats held by Republicans. Historically, the party that holds the White House typically loses seats in the first congressional elections after a president's initial two years in office. "You lose the midterm, we are going to go through nothing but fights. We are going to be fighting to keep what you have, they are going to want to take it away. You have to go out, we can't be complacent," Trump said. In addition to stalling the Trump's legislative agenda, a Democrat-controlled House could examine everything from his long-elusive tax returns to possible business ties with Russia and conflicts of interest, congressional sources say. While some Democrats have called for Trump's impeachment, the party's leadership have been more cautious --- and are reportedly waiting until the outcome of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US elections and possible Trump campaign collusion with Moscow "The big question is do the Democrats have the discipline and unity to pull this off. Ordinarily, I'd be skeptical but I think there's enough anger on the part of Democrats against Donald Trump who they believe is destroying our democracy, that if they win the House, they will get their act together to launch disciplined investigations," Allan Lichtman, the author of 'The Case For Impeachment' and a history professor at American University, said. Lichtman is quick to point out that only the House of Representatives has the power to introduce impeachment articles and that the guidelines are intentionally broad. "It's a combined legal, moral and political judgment. It doesn't require an indictable crime. That's why the Constitution says high crimes and misdemeanors," Lichtman said. Actions taken before entering office can also be taken into consideration, said Licthman. In July, a group of Republicans introduced articles of impeachment to remove Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the federal probe of Russia's role in the 2016 election. It was ultimately rejected by US House Speaker Paul Ryan. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi noted that Rosenstein was a Republican appointee and said the Republican lawmakers were undermining the judicial system with a politically motivated action. Trump, in recent weeks has veered from his standard remarks to address the possibility of an impeachment. "If you fight back today, it's called obstruction. No no no. We fight back. Call it whatever the hell you want. We fight back," Trump said. At rally in Rochester, Minnesota, Trump speculated about Pelosi becoming the next Speaker of the House, adding, "Don't do that to me." Both Republicans and Democrats have reported high levels of enthusiasm for the upcoming midterm elections -- a fact Doherty believes is linked to the strong feelings on both sides about Trump. While midterm elections historically have low turnout, Doherty believes the unusually high levels of enthusiasm could result in a large turnout. At rallies across the country, Trump has urged supporters not to be "complacent." "Democrat sanctuary cities release violent criminals from jail and straight into your neighborhoods," Trump told supporters told a rally in Houston. In West Virginia, he warned that a "Democrat-controlled Senate will try to take away your Second Amendment. They're going to take it away." At another rally, Trump warned, "bad things will happen if you sit home." "Trump knows that his opponents are motivated by anger and fear. He's trying to do the same with his base. And that's where the midterm elections will be decided," Lichtman said.

US midterms: Trump steps up rallies, warns supporters that 'bad things will happen' if they don't vote'

US midterm polls 2018: Immigration becomes a key issue

Donald Trump's unilateral proposal to end birthright citizenship has come under severe criticism. But it has got him, what he wants. He has managed to grab headlines days before Americans vote in the mid-terms. It's all part of Trump's strategy.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Trump is not contesting, but these elections will determine if his party keeps control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It will also be a referendum for Trump's Presidency. Any President's first mid-term is seen as a stamp of approval or disapproval for him. Floating such controversial ideas helps to keep the Republicans in the public eye.&nbsp; 
 
The headlines could boost chances for Republican candidates in key Senate races. It also boosts efforts to oust Democrat incumbents in traditional red states.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Trump's proposal also comes in the backdrop of the Immigration crisis. It has been Trump's long-term goal to seal borders and stop entry of what he calls 'aliens'. A proposal to end birthright citizenship is a step in that direction.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
A lot is at stake for Donald Trump this election and he realises that. He is on a whirlwind tour of the country and in one such rally, he said if Democrats gain control, the next two years in the White House will be terrible.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
If Republicans lose control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate, they will lose their ability to send new bills to President Donald Trump’s desk with their party’s votes alone. Democrats will stall bill that hinges on conservative agenda. Which means, the conservative legislative agenda would be dead. All of Trump's plans to repeal Obamacare will be thwarted if Democrats take over.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Secondly, if either the House or the Congress goes the other way, the Trump administration could be staring at more investigations. If Democrats gain control, they would gain subpoena power, which would let them investigate the Trump administration far more aggressively. Apart from the Russia collusion charge, Trump could be staring at an investigation into sexual assault allegations against him, his businesses and all kinds of controversial policy choices or potential scandals.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
In the last 100 years, an incumbent party has kept control of the House and the Senate only thrice. So if Trump, who is a political outsider manages to pull that off, it would certainly be an achievement. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Donald Trump's unilateral proposal to end birthright citizenship has come under severe criticism. But it has got him, what he wants. He has managed to grab headlines days before Americans vote in the mid-terms.

Donald Trump's unilateral proposal to end birthright citizenship has come under severe criticism. But it has got him, what he wants. He has managed to grab headlines days before Americans vote in the mid-terms. It's all part of Trump's strategy. Trump is not contesting, but these elections will determine if his party keeps control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It will also be a referendum for Trump's Presidency. Any President's first mid-term is seen as a stamp of approval or disapproval for him. Floating such controversial ideas helps to keep the Republicans in the public eye. The headlines could boost chances for Republican candidates in key Senate races. It also boosts efforts to oust Democrat incumbents in traditional red states. Trump's proposal also comes in the backdrop of the Immigration crisis. It has been Trump's long-term goal to seal borders and stop entry of what he calls 'aliens'. A proposal to end birthright citizenship is a step in that direction. A lot is at stake for Donald Trump this election and he realises that. He is on a whirlwind tour of the country and in one such rally, he said if Democrats gain control, the next two years in the White House will be terrible. If Republicans lose control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate, they will lose their ability to send new bills to President Donald Trump’s desk with their party’s votes alone. Democrats will stall bill that hinges on conservative agenda. Which means, the conservative legislative agenda would be dead. All of Trump's plans to repeal Obamacare will be thwarted if Democrats take over. Secondly, if either the House or the Congress goes the other way, the Trump administration could be staring at more investigations. If Democrats gain control, they would gain subpoena power, which would let them investigate the Trump administration far more aggressively. Apart from the Russia collusion charge, Trump could be staring at an investigation into sexual assault allegations against him, his businesses and all kinds of controversial policy choices or potential scandals. In the last 100 years, an incumbent party has kept control of the House and the Senate only thrice. So if Trump, who is a political outsider manages to pull that off, it would certainly be an achievement. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Donald Trump makes the right noises before US midterms

US midterm polls 2018: Candidates campaign full-throttle before election day

Gridlock, Blue Sweep or Red Repeat? Wall Street is closely watching the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-shocks-with-racist-new-ad-before-midterm-polls-174800">US&nbsp;midterm </a>Congressional elections next week, as policy decisions that could sway the economy, corporate decision-making and consumer spending hinge on the results.

Should his fellow Republicans maintain or extend their grip on Congress, President Donald Trump may be emboldened to pursue more of his political agenda, including further tax reforms.

By contrast, Democratic gains that allow the party to control the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, could stifle Trump's policy aims and perhaps lead to attempts to impeach him.

Investors are bracing for a split Congress, in which<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/how-democratic-us-house-could-alter-foreign-policy-174456"> Democrats win the House</a> but Republicans hold the Senate, a reflection of current polling data and online betting markets.

Sentiment could change though in the last week before the November 6 elections and investors are quick to recall that Trump was losing in polls ahead of his surprise victory in the presidential election of 2016.

Midterm congressional elections "typically are not a major US&nbsp;market event, let alone a global market event, but this time may be different," Citigroup analysts wrote in a recent note.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-he-plans-to-scrap-birthright-citizenship-174438">Donald Trump plans to scrap birthright citizenship</a>

Here is a look at how the election results could affect different asset classes:

Stocks

A Democratic takeover of the House might spook the stock market because of concerns about political instability, including hearings involving the Trump administration.

But the fall in US&nbsp;stock prices this month may be increasingly pricing in such a split Congress, so that scenario may not significantly shake the market.

Even if Democrats win the House, legislative gridlock may reduce the chances of major policy changes if Republicans retain control of the Senate.

However, an infrastructure spending package is one area where Trump and Democrats could find compromise that boosts equities.

A Democratic sweep of the House and Senate would likely surprise the market and prompt a sell-off in stocks.

The potential for Democrats to alter Trump's tax-cut package or to start impeachment proceedings could jar investor and business confidence.

A Republican win that allows them to retain total control of Congress could lift stocks as it would increase the chances of more tax reform and further de-regulation.

The market would keep one eye on the Federal Reserve though if Congress were to stimulate economic growth further with more tax cuts or spending which may push inflation higher and lead to higher interest rates.

A Republican victory could also embolden Trump to pursue his protectionist international trade policies with even more import tariffs.

"The initial reaction might be positive, but there are some negative potential consequences to it if there is no real check on administration policies," said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey. "Those policies, both in trade and in taxes, have been pretty inflationary."

US dollar

If the Republicans retain both the House and Senate the US&nbsp;dollar may benefit, analysts said. Given the disruption to international product supply lines and rising input costs resulting from Trump's tariffs, the dollar is perceived as a safe haven and it strengthened after levies were imposed on Chinese, European, and Canadian imports this year.

A divided Congress, however, is perceived as negative for the dollar, analysts said, because it is unlikely that any new fiscal stimulus could be launched to counterbalance forecasts of slowing US&nbsp;economic growth next year.

A Democratic sweep of Congress could also undermine the dollar, if it leads to complete gridlock in Washington DC&nbsp;as it raises the risk of government shutdowns and suggests a more volatile political environment ahead of the 2020 US&nbsp;presidential election.

A Democratic Congress could roll back some of the Trump administration's trade policy measures and help other currencies such as those in emerging markets, analysts said.

Emerging markets

The outlook for emerging markets is linked to US&nbsp;dollar strength and trade policy tensions. Emerging market assets will likely respond inversely to movements in the US&nbsp;dollar after the elections.

A Democratic takeover of one or both chambers of Congress would reduce the tension in trade talks with China according to Bertrand Delgado, director of emerging markets at Societe Generale in New York.

A Republican sweep could translate into a selloff in emerging market assets as international trade spats would be expected to continue. China has weighed the most on emerging market equities following a slowdown in economic growth due to the trade war with the United States.

Bonds

Should Democrats take one or both chambers of Congress, further efforts to change the tax code would likely stall, but Democrats may be unable to roll back the Republican tax cuts enacted last December or to increase spending on social programs.

As a result the federal deficit will be unlikely to grow at a faster rate or require additional borrowing than is currently forecast and this could be mildly positive for bond prices.

“We are looking for a split government which means nothing will get done,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, interest rate strategist at TD Securities in New York.

One caveat: If a split government leads to a government shutdown as a negotiation tool, it could spur safe-haven bids for US&nbsp;Treasuries.

If Republicans retain their edge in Congress, the fiscal outlook is complicated by how they will tackle the budget deficit.

They might attempt more tax changes which can increase the deficit. Any changes may be offset by efforts to cut entitlement programs or to end the Affordable Care Act though the net impact on federal borrowing is unclear.

Gridlock, Blue Sweep or Red Repeat? Wall Street is closely watching the US midterm Congressional elections next week, as policy decisions that could sway the economy, corporate decision-making and consumer spending hinge on the results.

Gridlock, Blue Sweep or Red Repeat? Wall Street is closely watching the US midterm Congressional elections next week, as policy decisions that could sway the economy, corporate decision-making and consumer spending hinge on the results. Should his fellow Republicans maintain or extend their grip on Congress, President Donald Trump may be emboldened to pursue more of his political agenda, including further tax reforms. By contrast, Democratic gains that allow the party to control the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, could stifle Trump's policy aims and perhaps lead to attempts to impeach him. Investors are bracing for a split Congress, in which Democrats win the House but Republicans hold the Senate, a reflection of current polling data and online betting markets. Sentiment could change though in the last week before the November 6 elections and investors are quick to recall that Trump was losing in polls ahead of his surprise victory in the presidential election of 2016. Midterm congressional elections "typically are not a major US market event, let alone a global market event, but this time may be different," Citigroup analysts wrote in a recent note. Also read: Donald Trump plans to scrap birthright citizenship Here is a look at how the election results could affect different asset classes: Stocks A Democratic takeover of the House might spook the stock market because of concerns about political instability, including hearings involving the Trump administration. But the fall in US stock prices this month may be increasingly pricing in such a split Congress, so that scenario may not significantly shake the market. Even if Democrats win the House, legislative gridlock may reduce the chances of major policy changes if Republicans retain control of the Senate. However, an infrastructure spending package is one area where Trump and Democrats could find compromise that boosts equities. A Democratic sweep of the House and Senate would likely surprise the market and prompt a sell-off in stocks. The potential for Democrats to alter Trump's tax-cut package or to start impeachment proceedings could jar investor and business confidence. A Republican win that allows them to retain total control of Congress could lift stocks as it would increase the chances of more tax reform and further de-regulation. The market would keep one eye on the Federal Reserve though if Congress were to stimulate economic growth further with more tax cuts or spending which may push inflation higher and lead to higher interest rates. A Republican victory could also embolden Trump to pursue his protectionist international trade policies with even more import tariffs. "The initial reaction might be positive, but there are some negative potential consequences to it if there is no real check on administration policies," said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey. "Those policies, both in trade and in taxes, have been pretty inflationary." US dollar If the Republicans retain both the House and Senate the US dollar may benefit, analysts said. Given the disruption to international product supply lines and rising input costs resulting from Trump's tariffs, the dollar is perceived as a safe haven and it strengthened after levies were imposed on Chinese, European, and Canadian imports this year. A divided Congress, however, is perceived as negative for the dollar, analysts said, because it is unlikely that any new fiscal stimulus could be launched to counterbalance forecasts of slowing US economic growth next year. A Democratic sweep of Congress could also undermine the dollar, if it leads to complete gridlock in Washington DC as it raises the risk of government shutdowns and suggests a more volatile political environment ahead of the 2020 US presidential election. A Democratic Congress could roll back some of the Trump administration's trade policy measures and help other currencies such as those in emerging markets, analysts said. Emerging markets The outlook for emerging markets is linked to US dollar strength and trade policy tensions. Emerging market assets will likely respond inversely to movements in the US dollar after the elections. A Democratic takeover of one or both chambers of Congress would reduce the tension in trade talks with China according to Bertrand Delgado, director of emerging markets at Societe Generale in New York. A Republican sweep could translate into a selloff in emerging market assets as international trade spats would be expected to continue. China has weighed the most on emerging market equities following a slowdown in economic growth due to the trade war with the United States. Bonds Should Democrats take one or both chambers of Congress, further efforts to change the tax code would likely stall, but Democrats may be unable to roll back the Republican tax cuts enacted last December or to increase spending on social programs. As a result the federal deficit will be unlikely to grow at a faster rate or require additional borrowing than is currently forecast and this could be mildly positive for bond prices. “We are looking for a split government which means nothing will get done,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, interest rate strategist at TD Securities in New York. One caveat: If a split government leads to a government shutdown as a negotiation tool, it could spur safe-haven bids for US Treasuries. If Republicans retain their edge in Congress, the fiscal outlook is complicated by how they will tackle the budget deficit. They might attempt more tax changes which can increase the deficit. Any changes may be offset by efforts to cut entitlement programs or to end the Affordable Care Act though the net impact on federal borrowing is unclear.

US midterm polls 2018: How elections could ripple through markets

US President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-birthright-citizenship-guarantee-of-the-14th-amendment-174507">warned today that the&nbsp;</a>"so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other".

As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” "Many legal scholars agree," the president added.

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So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1057624553478897665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, citizenship is granted to "all persons born or naturalised in the United States." It was passed by Congress in 1866 after the civil war.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said in an interview earlier that there was "more than just one piece of the puzzle" on immigration. &nbsp;

"President Trump’s new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans’ spiralling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions," Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said.

"Harry Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the open borders (which brings massive Crime) “stuff.” Don’t forget the nasty term anchor babies. I will keep our country safe. This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!" the President said in his tweet.

"The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the stupidity they see!" he added.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1057638285026254848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denounced Trump's statements as unconstitutional and a political manoeuvre ahead of November elections.

"This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms," the ACLU said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, vice-president Pence waded into the debate, saying: "We all cherish the language of the 14th Amendment, but the Supreme Court of the United States has never ruled on whether or not the language of the 14th Amendment 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' applies specifically to people who are in the country illegally." 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump warned today that the "so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other". As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

US President Donald Trump warned today that the "so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other". As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” "Many legal scholars agree," the president added. So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018 × Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, citizenship is granted to "all persons born or naturalised in the United States." It was passed by Congress in 1866 after the civil war. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said in an interview earlier that there was "more than just one piece of the puzzle" on immigration. "President Trump’s new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans’ spiralling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions," Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said. "Harry Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the open borders (which brings massive Crime) “stuff.” Don’t forget the nasty term anchor babies. I will keep our country safe. This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!" the President said in his tweet. "The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the stupidity they see!" he added. The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018 × The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denounced Trump's statements as unconstitutional and a political manoeuvre ahead of November elections. "This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms," the ACLU said in a tweet. Meanwhile, vice-president Pence waded into the debate, saying: "We all cherish the language of the 14th Amendment, but the Supreme Court of the United States has never ruled on whether or not the language of the 14th Amendment 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' applies specifically to people who are in the country illegally."

Birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other, warns Trump

The US midterm elections are just a week away as a deeply divided nation anxiously watches whether the Republicans will maintain their majority in the Congress, or if the Democrats will pull off a surprise retake of the House or the Senate. Any pretence of bipartisanship and decency in politics today has completely evaporated, as evidenced in the recently concluded hearings on the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee. Just last week, Americans have resorted to expressing differences of opinions not with words but with bombs.

The person singularly responsible for the demise of decency in American politics, President Donald Trump, paid lip service to condemn the attempted attacks against his critics like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and George Soros, among others, stating that “acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.” He quickly resorted to blaming the media and everyone who is critical of him, continuing to spew the divisive rhetoric that would define his presidency.

On October 25, Trump tweeted: “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!” The president’s words have only deepened the partisan divide in a nation that is already split asunder by ideology-based politics rather than issue-driven discourse. Republican Senators and House Representatives have dispensed with any sense of self-respect and propriety to line up meekly behind Trump just to advance their party agenda.

Underdog Urgency

Over the last century, Republicans have been the underdogs of American politics. Democrats have had control of the Senate for 66 of the last 100 years. They have also enjoyed a majority in the House for 65 years, including 40 straight from 1954 until 1994. With control of both arms of Congress and the presidency, it is no surprise that underdogs are behaving with a great deal of urgency, rushing through their agenda.

Now, a GOP-controlled Congress successfully passed a tax bill that is projected to increase the national debt by $1.9 trillion between 2018 and 2028. The tax breaks will primarily benefit corporations and America’s superrich, while the fast-dwindling middle class and the poor end up getting crumbs.

In complete defiance of science, the Trump administration has precipitated the problem of climate change by rolling back environmental regulations. The world has just 12 years to apply the brakes on greenhouse gas emissions and limit the rise in Earth’s temperature before humanity faces the irreversible effects of global warming in the form of droughts, flooding, extreme heat and poverty.

In his eight years as president, Barack Obama appointed 329 Article III federal judges, two to US Supreme Court, 55 to the US Court of Appeals, 268 to the US District Courts and four to US Court of International Trade. Thanks to the Republican-controlled Senate that had stalled several Obama nominations since 2015, Trump inherited several vacancies, including the one that allowed him to appoint Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. As of this writing, Trump has appointed 84 Article III judges, including two to the Supreme Court, 29 to the Court of Appeals and 53 to the District Courts, reshaping the complexion of the most important courts in the country.

What are the odds?

The battle to retake the Senate may prove near impossible for the Democrats, with more of them contesting for re-election than their Republican counterparts. To regain the majority, vulnerable Democratic candidates Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, Jon Tester and Joe Manchin have to hold on to their seats in the battleground states of North Dakota, Indiana, Montana and West Virginia respectively. In addition, they have to flip two of the three possible seats in Nevada, Arizona and Texas.

While the Democratic incumbents in Indiana, West Virginia and Montana are likely to hold their ground, Heidi Heitkamp is trailing in North Dakota by three points, a deficit that may prove very difficult to overcome following her vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Incumbent Republican Ted Cruz holds a comfortable five-point edge over his Democratic rival, Beto O’Rourke, in Texas, but the contest is surprisingly close for a Senate race in the Lone Star State. The Senate race is a toss-up in Nevada. Democrats stand the best chance of an upset in Arizona, where Democrat Kristen Sinema holds a thin lead over Republican Martha McSally. When the dust settles, the final tally may remain exactly what it is today, 51-49 in favour of Republicans, giving them two more years to comfortably fill court vacancies at various levels in the country with conservative judges and altering the complexion of the judiciary for decades to come.

The prospect for Democrats to retake the House majority looks more promising. In order to change the current 194-241 breakdown to a majority, Democrats have to flip at least 24 Republican seats in addition to holding on to their current constituencies. While the number 24 may seem daunting, the House has flipped a majority in the recent past with much larger margins. In 1994 and 2010, Republicans gained a House majority with a swing of 54 and 62 seats respectively. Democrats did that in 2006 with a swing of 32 seats. Regaining the majority in this election season is achievable if the anti-Trump sentiment, especially in key blue states, translates into more voters at the polls.

Decency and Decorum

Despite having the highest number of electoral votes, California typically plays an insignificant role in presidential elections. That is likely to change in these midterm elections as California can singlehandedly give more than a third of the seats needed for the Democrats to retake the House majority. Political pundits and polls show that California does have the ability to transfer as many as eight Republican-held seats to Democrats in their quest for 24. They are also aided by the millions that former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is pumping into California to help the cause of winning the House back.

The Garden State, New Jersey, has five Republican incumbents who are vulnerable and is very likely to unseat four of them in preference to their Democratic challengers. New York, Illinois, Virginia Iowa and Pennsylvania are all states with competitive elections that can provide the remaining seats needed by the Democrats. A statistical analysis website FiveThirtyEight projects that the Democrats will retake the House with a 6-in-7 chance.

If the Democrats do gain House majority, Trump, one of America’s most scandal-prone presidents, will come under closer scrutiny and may even face impeachment. He and his administration will likely face a slew of investigations that will apply brakes on the Republican legislative agenda for rest of his term, slowing down Trump’s destructive policies in the areas of immigration, environment and the rights of marginalized minorities. His threat to end birthright citizenship with an executive order, potentially defying the 14th Amendment of the Constitution will undoubtedly face stiff legal battle, driving another wedge in a nation already struggling with many unresolved immigration issues.

Decency and decorum in American politics will still be a distant dream even if Democrats flip the House next week. America’s vindictive and hate-mongering president will only redouble his efforts maligning every effort that exposes the vacuous and corrupt person that he is. That would still be a small price to pay for providing the much-needed checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of the US government that has been completely absent the past two years. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/can-democrats-win-us-midterm-elections-american-politics-news-analysis-17716/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The US midterm elections are just a week away as a deeply divided nation anxiously watches whether the Republicans will maintain their majority in the Congress, or if the Democrats will pull off a surprise retake of the House or the Senate.

The US midterm elections are just a week away as a deeply divided nation anxiously watches whether the Republicans will maintain their majority in the Congress, or if the Democrats will pull off a surprise retake of the House or the Senate. Any pretence of bipartisanship and decency in politics today has completely evaporated, as evidenced in the recently concluded hearings on the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee. Just last week, Americans have resorted to expressing differences of opinions not with words but with bombs. The person singularly responsible for the demise of decency in American politics, President Donald Trump, paid lip service to condemn the attempted attacks against his critics like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and George Soros, among others, stating that “acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.” He quickly resorted to blaming the media and everyone who is critical of him, continuing to spew the divisive rhetoric that would define his presidency. On October 25, Trump tweeted: “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!” The president’s words have only deepened the partisan divide in a nation that is already split asunder by ideology-based politics rather than issue-driven discourse. Republican Senators and House Representatives have dispensed with any sense of self-respect and propriety to line up meekly behind Trump just to advance their party agenda. Underdog Urgency Over the last century, Republicans have been the underdogs of American politics. Democrats have had control of the Senate for 66 of the last 100 years. They have also enjoyed a majority in the House for 65 years, including 40 straight from 1954 until 1994. With control of both arms of Congress and the presidency, it is no surprise that underdogs are behaving with a great deal of urgency, rushing through their agenda. Now, a GOP-controlled Congress successfully passed a tax bill that is projected to increase the national debt by $1.9 trillion between 2018 and 2028. The tax breaks will primarily benefit corporations and America’s superrich, while the fast-dwindling middle class and the poor end up getting crumbs. In complete defiance of science, the Trump administration has precipitated the problem of climate change by rolling back environmental regulations. The world has just 12 years to apply the brakes on greenhouse gas emissions and limit the rise in Earth’s temperature before humanity faces the irreversible effects of global warming in the form of droughts, flooding, extreme heat and poverty. In his eight years as president, Barack Obama appointed 329 Article III federal judges, two to US Supreme Court, 55 to the US Court of Appeals, 268 to the US District Courts and four to US Court of International Trade. Thanks to the Republican-controlled Senate that had stalled several Obama nominations since 2015, Trump inherited several vacancies, including the one that allowed him to appoint Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. As of this writing, Trump has appointed 84 Article III judges, including two to the Supreme Court, 29 to the Court of Appeals and 53 to the District Courts, reshaping the complexion of the most important courts in the country. What are the odds? The battle to retake the Senate may prove near impossible for the Democrats, with more of them contesting for re-election than their Republican counterparts. To regain the majority, vulnerable Democratic candidates Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, Jon Tester and Joe Manchin have to hold on to their seats in the battleground states of North Dakota, Indiana, Montana and West Virginia respectively. In addition, they have to flip two of the three possible seats in Nevada, Arizona and Texas. While the Democratic incumbents in Indiana, West Virginia and Montana are likely to hold their ground, Heidi Heitkamp is trailing in North Dakota by three points, a deficit that may prove very difficult to overcome following her vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Incumbent Republican Ted Cruz holds a comfortable five-point edge over his Democratic rival, Beto O’Rourke, in Texas, but the contest is surprisingly close for a Senate race in the Lone Star State. The Senate race is a toss-up in Nevada. Democrats stand the best chance of an upset in Arizona, where Democrat Kristen Sinema holds a thin lead over Republican Martha McSally. When the dust settles, the final tally may remain exactly what it is today, 51-49 in favour of Republicans, giving them two more years to comfortably fill court vacancies at various levels in the country with conservative judges and altering the complexion of the judiciary for decades to come. The prospect for Democrats to retake the House majority looks more promising. In order to change the current 194-241 breakdown to a majority, Democrats have to flip at least 24 Republican seats in addition to holding on to their current constituencies. While the number 24 may seem daunting, the House has flipped a majority in the recent past with much larger margins. In 1994 and 2010, Republicans gained a House majority with a swing of 54 and 62 seats respectively. Democrats did that in 2006 with a swing of 32 seats. Regaining the majority in this election season is achievable if the anti-Trump sentiment, especially in key blue states, translates into more voters at the polls. Decency and Decorum Despite having the highest number of electoral votes, California typically plays an insignificant role in presidential elections. That is likely to change in these midterm elections as California can singlehandedly give more than a third of the seats needed for the Democrats to retake the House majority. Political pundits and polls show that California does have the ability to transfer as many as eight Republican-held seats to Democrats in their quest for 24. They are also aided by the millions that former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is pumping into California to help the cause of winning the House back. The Garden State, New Jersey, has five Republican incumbents who are vulnerable and is very likely to unseat four of them in preference to their Democratic challengers. New York, Illinois, Virginia Iowa and Pennsylvania are all states with competitive elections that can provide the remaining seats needed by the Democrats. A statistical analysis website FiveThirtyEight projects that the Democrats will retake the House with a 6-in-7 chance. If the Democrats do gain House majority, Trump, one of America’s most scandal-prone presidents, will come under closer scrutiny and may even face impeachment. He and his administration will likely face a slew of investigations that will apply brakes on the Republican legislative agenda for rest of his term, slowing down Trump’s destructive policies in the areas of immigration, environment and the rights of marginalized minorities. His threat to end birthright citizenship with an executive order, potentially defying the 14th Amendment of the Constitution will undoubtedly face stiff legal battle, driving another wedge in a nation already struggling with many unresolved immigration issues. Decency and decorum in American politics will still be a distant dream even if Democrats flip the House next week. America’s vindictive and hate-mongering president will only redouble his efforts maligning every effort that exposes the vacuous and corrupt person that he is. That would still be a small price to pay for providing the much-needed checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of the US government that has been completely absent the past two years. (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What is at stake in the US midterm elections?

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour.

The battle for the governor's mansion in the US state of Georgia features a woman vying to become the first black woman governor to run a state.

"Voter suppression isn't only about blocking the vote.. It's also about creating an atmosphere of fear... making people worry that their votes will not count," said Democrat Stacey Abrams in the first debate with Republican candidate Brian Kemp in Atlanta. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

According to a report, more than 53 thousand voter applications were on hold in the state ahead of election day. Nearly 70 per cent of those were from black applicants.

The battle for Georgia's governor's seat is emblematic of a number of races across the US in which candidates of colour are making strides in record numbers and initiating a wave of 'firsts' across the country.&nbsp;

In Michigan, former provincial lawmaker Rashida Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman ever and the first Palestinian-American ever in the house of representatives -- the lower house of US Legislature.&nbsp;

In fact, Rashida Tlaib will be elected unopposed because no one is running against her. She will represent Michigan's 13th congressional district.&nbsp;

"If we want to be able to have a seat at the table then we're going to have to run, but people like us with unique names and different backgrounds and children of immigrants and all those things that I think makes us uniquely different in our lens very different to finally run for office," said Rashida Tlaib.

Another Muslim woman, a thirty-five-year-old, Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, hopes to be the first Somali-American in the US legislature.

She is also a refugee. She came to the US when she was twelve-years-old.&nbsp;

In New Mexico, Democrat Debra Haaland is trying to become America's first Native-American woman elected to the lower house of US legislature.

"There's never been a Native-American woman. There's nobody that looks like me," says Debra Haaland.

Tallahassee's Democratic mayor Andrew Gillum is running for Florida's governor. If he wins he will become Florida's first black governor.

Gillum is well aware that his win would be groundbreaking and he is not afraid to comment on the way racism has permeated his run against his opponent - Republican and former federal lawmaker Ron Desantis.

"He's got neo-nazis helping him out in this state.. Now I'm not calling Mr Desantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist," said Andrew Gillum.

Recently, President Donald Trump had accused Gillum of being a "thief", without citing any evidence.

In southern California's most Republican congressional district, a young, Latino-Arab-American Democrat is gaining ground, but Ammar Campa-Najjar's opponent have raised concerns over his racial background.

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour.

The upcoming US midterm elections are important for various reasons, one of the main highlights of these elections is the increasing number of candidates running for the federal legislature or governor are persons of colour. The battle for the governor's mansion in the US state of Georgia features a woman vying to become the first black woman governor to run a state. "Voter suppression isn't only about blocking the vote.. It's also about creating an atmosphere of fear... making people worry that their votes will not count," said Democrat Stacey Abrams in the first debate with Republican candidate Brian Kemp in Atlanta. According to a report, more than 53 thousand voter applications were on hold in the state ahead of election day. Nearly 70 per cent of those were from black applicants. The battle for Georgia's governor's seat is emblematic of a number of races across the US in which candidates of colour are making strides in record numbers and initiating a wave of 'firsts' across the country. In Michigan, former provincial lawmaker Rashida Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman ever and the first Palestinian-American ever in the house of representatives -- the lower house of US Legislature. In fact, Rashida Tlaib will be elected unopposed because no one is running against her. She will represent Michigan's 13th congressional district. "If we want to be able to have a seat at the table then we're going to have to run, but people like us with unique names and different backgrounds and children of immigrants and all those things that I think makes us uniquely different in our lens very different to finally run for office," said Rashida Tlaib. Another Muslim woman, a thirty-five-year-old, Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, hopes to be the first Somali-American in the US legislature. She is also a refugee. She came to the US when she was twelve-years-old. In New Mexico, Democrat Debra Haaland is trying to become America's first Native-American woman elected to the lower house of US legislature. "There's never been a Native-American woman. There's nobody that looks like me," says Debra Haaland. Tallahassee's Democratic mayor Andrew Gillum is running for Florida's governor. If he wins he will become Florida's first black governor. Gillum is well aware that his win would be groundbreaking and he is not afraid to comment on the way racism has permeated his run against his opponent - Republican and former federal lawmaker Ron Desantis. "He's got neo-nazis helping him out in this state.. Now I'm not calling Mr Desantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist," said Andrew Gillum. Recently, President Donald Trump had accused Gillum of being a "thief", without citing any evidence. In southern California's most Republican congressional district, a young, Latino-Arab-American Democrat is gaining ground, but Ammar Campa-Najjar's opponent have raised concerns over his racial background.

US midterm elections: Women, immigrants eye big win

Facebook said it has purged more than 800 US pages and accounts for spamming users with politically-tinged garbage links and clickbait just weeks ahead of the US midterm elections.

The banned accounts and Facebook sites exhibited "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" such as working together to make the pages appear more popular than they actually are. This, Facebook said, was designed to mislead users about who they are and what they're doing.

The social network said these accounts spread "sensational political content" designed to drive people to ad-laden websites outside Facebook.&nbsp;

In the past, such spammers have often focused on celebrity gossip, weight loss remedies and fake iPhones.

Pages Facebook removed fell on both sides on the political spectrum, Facebook said, although it declined to say if there were more on the right or the left.

The removed pages included the conservative "Nation in Distress" and the left-wing "Snowflakes," among others with names such as "Reasonable People Unite," ''The Resistance" and "Right Wing News".&nbsp;

Facebook said it doesn't look at the content of the posts and photos that the accounts are spreading, but rather, the "behaviour" of the pages such as whether they are using fake accounts or sending spam when deciding whether to remove them.

The turn towards politics suggests that spammers are learning from the Russian playbook on how to get people riled up and clicking. Facebook has been working to weed out misinformation and election meddling since it acknowledged that Russian agents abused its service in 2016.

But while those actors seemed intent on disrupting elections, Facebook says its latest purge was about accounts trying to make money.&nbsp;

Facebook said it has purged more than 800 US pages and accounts for spamming users with politically-tinged garbage links and clickbait just weeks ahead of the US midterm elections.

Facebook said it has purged more than 800 US pages and accounts for spamming users with politically-tinged garbage links and clickbait just weeks ahead of the US midterm elections. The banned accounts and Facebook sites exhibited "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" such as working together to make the pages appear more popular than they actually are. This, Facebook said, was designed to mislead users about who they are and what they're doing. The social network said these accounts spread "sensational political content" designed to drive people to ad-laden websites outside Facebook. In the past, such spammers have often focused on celebrity gossip, weight loss remedies and fake iPhones. Pages Facebook removed fell on both sides on the political spectrum, Facebook said, although it declined to say if there were more on the right or the left. The removed pages included the conservative "Nation in Distress" and the left-wing "Snowflakes," among others with names such as "Reasonable People Unite," ''The Resistance" and "Right Wing News". Facebook said it doesn't look at the content of the posts and photos that the accounts are spreading, but rather, the "behaviour" of the pages such as whether they are using fake accounts or sending spam when deciding whether to remove them. The turn towards politics suggests that spammers are learning from the Russian playbook on how to get people riled up and clicking. Facebook has been working to weed out misinformation and election meddling since it acknowledged that Russian agents abused its service in 2016. But while those actors seemed intent on disrupting elections, Facebook says its latest purge was about accounts trying to make money.

Purged more than 800 US pages, spam accounts ahead of US midterm elections: Facebook

US President Donald Trump has said he likes Taylor Swift's music "about 25 per cent less" after the pop superstar <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/taylor-swift-breaks-silence-on-politics-endorses-two-tennessee-democrats-for-midterms-170286">endorsed the Democrats running for office in Tennessee</a>&nbsp;in the upcoming US midterm elections.&nbsp;

Tennessee is Swift's home state.&nbsp;

Swift backed Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, who are running for the Senate and the House of Representatives. She also launched a fierce attack on&nbsp;Bredesen's opponent,&nbsp;the Republican Marsha Blackburn, who currently serves in the House.

Swift made her comments on Sunday on Instagram.&nbsp;

"I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now," Swift wrote.&nbsp;

"I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values."

Swift won a lawsuit last year against a former radio DJ she accused of groping her.

"For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway," Swift wrote on Instagram.&nbsp;

"So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!" Swift added.&nbsp;

Trump was asked for his reaction and he said he was ""sure Taylor Swift doesn't know anything" about Blackburn.

The president was asked for his reaction to the snub and told reporters at the White House he was "sure Taylor Swift doesn't know anything" about Blackburn.

"Let's say that I like Taylor's music about 25 percent less now, okay?" he added. AFP reported that he also flashed "what could best be described as a cheeky grin".

Trump, it should be noted, has been a Swift fan.

"Glad to hear that @taylorswift13 will be co-hosting the Grammy nominations special on 12.5. Taylor is terrific!" he tweeted breathlessly in October 2012.

In August of that year, addressing her directly, he swooned: "Thanks for the beautiful picture --- you are fantastic!"

(With inputs from AFP)

US President Donald Trump has said he likes Taylor Swift's music "about 25 per cent less" after the pop superstar endorsed the Democrats running for office in Tennessee in the upcoming US midterm elections.

US President Donald Trump has said he likes Taylor Swift's music "about 25 per cent less" after the pop superstar endorsed the Democrats running for office in Tennessee in the upcoming US midterm elections. Tennessee is Swift's home state. Swift backed Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, who are running for the Senate and the House of Representatives. She also launched a fierce attack on Bredesen's opponent, the Republican Marsha Blackburn, who currently serves in the House. Swift made her comments on Sunday on Instagram. "I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now," Swift wrote. "I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values." Swift won a lawsuit last year against a former radio DJ she accused of groping her. "For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway," Swift wrote on Instagram. "So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!" Swift added. Trump was asked for his reaction and he said he was ""sure Taylor Swift doesn't know anything" about Blackburn. The president was asked for his reaction to the snub and told reporters at the White House he was "sure Taylor Swift doesn't know anything" about Blackburn. "Let's say that I like Taylor's music about 25 percent less now, okay?" he added. AFP reported that he also flashed "what could best be described as a cheeky grin". Trump, it should be noted, has been a Swift fan. "Glad to hear that @taylorswift13 will be co-hosting the Grammy nominations special on 12.5. Taylor is terrific!" he tweeted breathlessly in October 2012. In August of that year, addressing her directly, he swooned: "Thanks for the beautiful picture --- you are fantastic!" (With inputs from AFP)

Trump says he likes Taylor Swift's music 'about 25% less' after she endorses Democrats

As women rallied at the U.S. Capitol to protest Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court on Saturday, activist Linda Sarsour flew from Washington to Texas with her eyes on the next challenge: the Nov. 6 congressional elections.

Sarsour, a leader of the Women's March organization, said it was time to harness women's furor around Kavanaugh to galvanize voters in races that will soon determine which party controls Congress.

"This is not the end," Sarsour, 38, said in a telephone interview. "I think the rage will be translated into mass voter turnout."

Women's March, which grew out of the massive January 2017 demonstrations protesting Donald Trump's presidency, mobilized thousands of women during Kavanaugh's confirmation process over concerns about how the conservative judge would vote on issues such as abortion, and allegations that he sexually assaulted university professor Christine Blasey Ford when they were teenagers in 1982.

Sarsour said the group will use its vast digital infrastructure to get hundred of thousands of women to support Democrats in dozens of U.S. House of Representatives races and to target incumbent Senate Republicans Ted Cruz in Texas and Dean Heller in Nevada.

Polls show Cruz and Heller, who both voted for Kavanaugh's confirmation, in tight contests.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which advocates for women's healthcare and abortion access, launched a digital ad in Nevada this week criticizing Heller for calling sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh a "hiccup" in the confirmation process.

Women are playing a key role in the first midterm election since Trump’s 2016 victory. Fueled by his statements about women and the #MeToo movement, a record number of women are running for Congress this year.

Women who live in suburbs, where some of the most competitive House races will be contested, have trended away from Republicans in recent polls and may be further energized by the Kavanaugh debate.

Activists are also encouraged by the response to a crowdfunding effort focused on Republican Senator Susan Collins, a possible swing vote who ultimately voted for Kavanaugh. More than $3.2 million was pledged to help her future opponent in 2020, when the Maine senator is up for re-election.

"Starting tomorrow, it's not unlikely we ask those 130,000 donors to start to support some of the Senate Democrats in really tough races this year," said Liz Jaff, co-director of Be A Hero, which advocates for healthcare causes.

Jaff cited Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri, who both opposed Kavanaugh and face serious challenges in states won by Trump.

Conservative groups also vowed to keep the confirmation battle at the forefront of voters' minds.

"Americans saw through the vilification of an exceptionally qualified nominee, and their senators will be held accountable," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of anti-abortion group, Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement.

As women rallied at the U.S. Capitol to protest Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court on Saturday, activist Linda Sarsour flew from Washington to Texas with her eyes on the next challenge: the Nov.

As women rallied at the U.S. Capitol to protest Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court on Saturday, activist Linda Sarsour flew from Washington to Texas with her eyes on the next challenge: the Nov. 6 congressional elections. Sarsour, a leader of the Women's March organization, said it was time to harness women's furor around Kavanaugh to galvanize voters in races that will soon determine which party controls Congress. "This is not the end," Sarsour, 38, said in a telephone interview. "I think the rage will be translated into mass voter turnout." Women's March, which grew out of the massive January 2017 demonstrations protesting Donald Trump's presidency, mobilized thousands of women during Kavanaugh's confirmation process over concerns about how the conservative judge would vote on issues such as abortion, and allegations that he sexually assaulted university professor Christine Blasey Ford when they were teenagers in 1982. Sarsour said the group will use its vast digital infrastructure to get hundred of thousands of women to support Democrats in dozens of U.S. House of Representatives races and to target incumbent Senate Republicans Ted Cruz in Texas and Dean Heller in Nevada. Polls show Cruz and Heller, who both voted for Kavanaugh's confirmation, in tight contests. Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which advocates for women's healthcare and abortion access, launched a digital ad in Nevada this week criticizing Heller for calling sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh a "hiccup" in the confirmation process. Women are playing a key role in the first midterm election since Trump’s 2016 victory. Fueled by his statements about women and the #MeToo movement, a record number of women are running for Congress this year. Women who live in suburbs, where some of the most competitive House races will be contested, have trended away from Republicans in recent polls and may be further energized by the Kavanaugh debate. Activists are also encouraged by the response to a crowdfunding effort focused on Republican Senator Susan Collins, a possible swing vote who ultimately voted for Kavanaugh. More than $3.2 million was pledged to help her future opponent in 2020, when the Maine senator is up for re-election. "Starting tomorrow, it's not unlikely we ask those 130,000 donors to start to support some of the Senate Democrats in really tough races this year," said Liz Jaff, co-director of Be A Hero, which advocates for healthcare causes. Jaff cited Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri, who both opposed Kavanaugh and face serious challenges in states won by Trump. Conservative groups also vowed to keep the confirmation battle at the forefront of voters' minds. "Americans saw through the vilification of an exceptionally qualified nominee, and their senators will be held accountable," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of anti-abortion group, Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement.

Women's groups aim to use Kavanaugh rage to boost voter turnout

US voters will soon render their verdict on Donald Trump and his ruling Republican Party after two tumultuous years that have deeply shaken the world's oldest existing democracy.

Have Americans had enough? The answer comes at polling stations one month from Saturday, with Republicans battling to keep control of the US Congress and Democrats hoping a "blue wave" will wash them out.&nbsp;

Trump -- among the most polarizing US leaders ever -- is not on the ballot, but his presence looms large over the midterms, which he has declared "the most important congressional elections of our lifetime."

He has hit the campaign trail for political allies and to rally his base, attacking "obstructionist" Democrats and touting his success in improving the US economy.

"I'm not on the ticket," he told supporters at a Mississippi rally Tuesday. "But I am on the ticket, because this is also a referendum about me."

Some Republicans, especially those who prevailed in 2016 in districts won by Hillary Clinton, are running at arm's length from Trump, whose poll ratings remain under water.

But many candidates have wholeheartedly embraced the president and acknowledged their election fortunes will rise or fall with him.

'Defining moment'

Democrats are energized, with well-funded campaigns aiming to snatch seats in Tennessee and other red states like Georgia, Kansas and Texas as they aim to reclaim the 435-member House of Representatives and the 100-member Senate.

"Folks are sensing a sea change coming here," Tariq Thowfeek of the Texas Democratic Party told AFP in Austin.

He pointed to the compelling grassroots candidacy of Beto O'Rourke, whose bid to oust Republican Senator Ted Cruz would send shockwaves through the nation if it succeeds on November 6.

O'Rourke often speaks of this being "a defining moment for our country," and embraces the opportunity to engage with Texans of all stripes.

He drills down on kitchen table issues including health care -- a top priority for Democratic voters -- jobs and education, while demanding criminal justice reform, more rational immigration policies and gun safety legislation.

But the man in the White House is still expected to have the predominant impact on the midterms.

"For Democrats the top issue by a mile is Donald Trump," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

"He is the reason they're turning out to vote, and almost unanimously they're voting against him."

In the first midterms of the anti-harassment #MeToo era, the power of the female vote is certain to be tested -- even more so with the dramatic debate currently roiling the US Senate.&nbsp;

The election season is occurring in the shadow of a bitter Supreme Court battle, in which Democrats are aiming to spoil the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a federal judge who stands accused of sexual assault.

'Rallying cry'

It remains unclear just how that partisan fight might impact the midterms. But Trump is confident his nominee, whose confirmation would shift the nine-justice high court rightward, will energize his base -- a necessity if the party wants to hold ground in November.

Kavanaugh "is like a rallying cry for the Republicans," Trump told reporters Tuesday.

If Kavanaugh gets confirmed, it would mean Republicans control the White House, both chambers of Congress, and a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, potentially diminishing the sense of urgency among Republican voters.

Depressed turnout could spell disaster for Republicans, who face a hostile election climate.&nbsp;

Democrats must gain 23 seats to retake the House. Dave Wasserman of the non-partisan Cook Political Report predicts Democrats will flip 25 to 40 seats, while the Center for Politics says that number could near 50.

In a sign of 2018's Democratic tilt, a hefty 29 Republican-held House seats are rated a "toss up" by Cook, compared to just two Democratic seats.&nbsp;

"It's getting ugly" for Republicans, tweeted Wasserman, as he pointed to the GOP closing the funding spigot for some embattled candidates in districts won by Trump in 2016.

Trump has employed fear-mongering to counter the Democrats' enthusiasm edge.

"If Democrats get control, they will raise your taxes, flood your streets with criminal aliens, weaken our military, outlaw private health insurance and replace freedom with socialism," Trump said in Mississippi.

Meanwhile, Democrats are promoting a diverse collection of candidates. Native Americans, Muslims, and Latinas are seeking to make history in many races, while Florida, Georgia and Maryland could elect their first black governors.&nbsp;

A new Quinnipiac Poll gives conservatives some hope, as it showed Republicans cutting the general Democratic lead in House races from 14 points to seven.

In the Senate, Democrats have a steeper climb, even though Republicans have a slim 51-49 majority.&nbsp;

Of the 35 Senate seats in contention in November, Democrats are defending 26 of them -- including 10 in states Trump won. Republicans are defending just nine seats.&nbsp;

US voters will soon render their verdict on Donald Trump and his ruling Republican Party after two tumultuous years that have deeply shaken the world's oldest existing democracy.

US voters will soon render their verdict on Donald Trump and his ruling Republican Party after two tumultuous years that have deeply shaken the world's oldest existing democracy. Have Americans had enough? The answer comes at polling stations one month from Saturday, with Republicans battling to keep control of the US Congress and Democrats hoping a "blue wave" will wash them out. Trump -- among the most polarizing US leaders ever -- is not on the ballot, but his presence looms large over the midterms, which he has declared "the most important congressional elections of our lifetime." He has hit the campaign trail for political allies and to rally his base, attacking "obstructionist" Democrats and touting his success in improving the US economy. "I'm not on the ticket," he told supporters at a Mississippi rally Tuesday. "But I am on the ticket, because this is also a referendum about me." Some Republicans, especially those who prevailed in 2016 in districts won by Hillary Clinton, are running at arm's length from Trump, whose poll ratings remain under water. But many candidates have wholeheartedly embraced the president and acknowledged their election fortunes will rise or fall with him. 'Defining moment' Democrats are energized, with well-funded campaigns aiming to snatch seats in Tennessee and other red states like Georgia, Kansas and Texas as they aim to reclaim the 435-member House of Representatives and the 100-member Senate. "Folks are sensing a sea change coming here," Tariq Thowfeek of the Texas Democratic Party told AFP in Austin. He pointed to the compelling grassroots candidacy of Beto O'Rourke, whose bid to oust Republican Senator Ted Cruz would send shockwaves through the nation if it succeeds on November 6. O'Rourke often speaks of this being "a defining moment for our country," and embraces the opportunity to engage with Texans of all stripes. He drills down on kitchen table issues including health care -- a top priority for Democratic voters -- jobs and education, while demanding criminal justice reform, more rational immigration policies and gun safety legislation. But the man in the White House is still expected to have the predominant impact on the midterms. "For Democrats the top issue by a mile is Donald Trump," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "He is the reason they're turning out to vote, and almost unanimously they're voting against him." In the first midterms of the anti-harassment #MeToo era, the power of the female vote is certain to be tested -- even more so with the dramatic debate currently roiling the US Senate. The election season is occurring in the shadow of a bitter Supreme Court battle, in which Democrats are aiming to spoil the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a federal judge who stands accused of sexual assault. 'Rallying cry' It remains unclear just how that partisan fight might impact the midterms. But Trump is confident his nominee, whose confirmation would shift the nine-justice high court rightward, will energize his base -- a necessity if the party wants to hold ground in November. Kavanaugh "is like a rallying cry for the Republicans," Trump told reporters Tuesday. If Kavanaugh gets confirmed, it would mean Republicans control the White House, both chambers of Congress, and a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, potentially diminishing the sense of urgency among Republican voters. Depressed turnout could spell disaster for Republicans, who face a hostile election climate. Democrats must gain 23 seats to retake the House. Dave Wasserman of the non-partisan Cook Political Report predicts Democrats will flip 25 to 40 seats, while the Center for Politics says that number could near 50. In a sign of 2018's Democratic tilt, a hefty 29 Republican-held House seats are rated a "toss up" by Cook, compared to just two Democratic seats. "It's getting ugly" for Republicans, tweeted Wasserman, as he pointed to the GOP closing the funding spigot for some embattled candidates in districts won by Trump in 2016. Trump has employed fear-mongering to counter the Democrats' enthusiasm edge. "If Democrats get control, they will raise your taxes, flood your streets with criminal aliens, weaken our military, outlaw private health insurance and replace freedom with socialism," Trump said in Mississippi. Meanwhile, Democrats are promoting a diverse collection of candidates. Native Americans, Muslims, and Latinas are seeking to make history in many races, while Florida, Georgia and Maryland could elect their first black governors. A new Quinnipiac Poll gives conservatives some hope, as it showed Republicans cutting the general Democratic lead in House races from 14 points to seven. In the Senate, Democrats have a steeper climb, even though Republicans have a slim 51-49 majority. Of the 35 Senate seats in contention in November, Democrats are defending 26 of them -- including 10 in states Trump won. Republicans are defending just nine seats.

With US midterms a month away, verdict on Trump looms