DALLAS — President Donald Trump wants to make one thing clear: His name is not on the ballot in November, but his supporters need to vote like it is.
\n\nRepublicans from across the country convened here Wednesday for their party’s first-ever midterm convention, an event designed to put Trump front and center in the closing stages of the midterm election cycle.
\n\n“Pretend that I am on the ballot,” Trump said to loud cheers during his keynote address Wednesday night. “I’m on the ballot.”
\n\nThe gathering comes as Trump’s approval ratings are at an all-time low, and the party is worried about MAGA voters not turning out in large numbers — historically a problem for Republicans when Trump is not running.
\n\nTrump tried to energize his base with a speech that was a hallmark of his presidential campaign — lengthy, winding and full insults directed at his opponents.
\n\nTrump leaned into the headwinds his party is facing, walking the audience through the long-running political dynamic that the party that controls the White House generally struggles during midterms.
\n\n“The midterms are not supposed to be won by the sitting president,” he said. “We are going to change that.”
\n\nFor much of the…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business