News Source
EXCERPT:
President Donald Trump just gave Republicans something they usually lack in a midterm year: a national stage they control.
The Republican Party will hold a first-ever midterm convention in Dallas on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, less than two months before voters decide control of Congress on Nov. 3.
For a party defending narrow majorities, the move is bold and risky.
And smart.
Midterms typically punish the party in the White House. Gallup’s history shows the president’s party has lost an average of 25 House seats in midterm elections since 1946. From Reuters:
An off-year convention is unusual, with such events usually held only during presidential election years. Republicans are under pressure to hold on to control of Congress for Trump’s final two years in office and worry that voter unease over the economy and Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran could hurt their efforts.
“BIG NEWS! For the first time ever, the Republican Party will hold a MIDTERM CONVENTION. It will be in Dallas, Texas — One of my favorite places in the World. It will be fantastic!” Trump said in a social media post.
Trump plans to address the gathering, according to two Republican sources familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The move would further tie him to the election’s outcome at a moment when Republicans are confronting historic headwinds. The party that holds the White House in the first midterm elections after a presidential election usually loses congressional seats.
Presidents with under 50% approval have watched their parties lose an average of 37 House seats. Republicans don’t need a lecture from consultants; they need turnout, discipline, and a message strong enough to break through the usual noise.