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| Mid-term elections 2018: Trump makes final bid for votes | Mid-term elections 2018: Trump makes final bid for votes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has made a last bid for voters to back the Republican party on the eve of a nationwide election that is seen as a referendum on his presidency. | US President Donald Trump has made a last bid for voters to back the Republican party on the eve of a nationwide election that is seen as a referendum on his presidency. |
| "Everything we have achieved is at stake tomorrow," he said during a blitz of three final rallies. | "Everything we have achieved is at stake tomorrow," he said during a blitz of three final rallies. |
| The mid-term elections come half way through his four years in office, and will determine how effectively he can govern for the next two years. | The mid-term elections come half way through his four years in office, and will determine how effectively he can govern for the next two years. |
| Voter turnout is expected to be high. | Voter turnout is expected to be high. |
| At stake are 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate - the two bodies that make up Congress. Governors are also being chosen in 36 out of 50 states. | At stake are 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of 100 seats in the Senate - the two bodies that make up Congress. Governors are also being chosen in 36 out of 50 states. |
| In recent days, the president has ratcheted up rhetoric on divisive issues in a bid to energise his base. | In recent days, the president has ratcheted up rhetoric on divisive issues in a bid to energise his base. |
| Barack Obama - on the campaign trail for the Democratic party - said "the character of our country is on the ballot". The former president tweeted the vote "might be the most important of our lifetimes". | Barack Obama - on the campaign trail for the Democratic party - said "the character of our country is on the ballot". The former president tweeted the vote "might be the most important of our lifetimes". |
| What is at stake? | What is at stake? |
| The mid-term elections will decide which party will control the two houses of Congress, which decides federal legislation. | The mid-term elections will decide which party will control the two houses of Congress, which decides federal legislation. |
| If Republicans maintain their hold on both the Senate and the House of Representatives, they could build on their agenda and that of President Trump. | If Republicans maintain their hold on both the Senate and the House of Representatives, they could build on their agenda and that of President Trump. |
| But if the Democrats wrest control of one or both chambers, they could stymie or even reverse Mr Trump's plans. | But if the Democrats wrest control of one or both chambers, they could stymie or even reverse Mr Trump's plans. |
| Pollsters suggest Democrats may win the 23 seats they need to take over the House of Representatives, and possibly 15 or so extra seats. | Pollsters suggest Democrats may win the 23 seats they need to take over the House of Representatives, and possibly 15 or so extra seats. |
| However, the Democrats are expected to fall short of the two seats they need to win control of the Senate. | However, the Democrats are expected to fall short of the two seats they need to win control of the Senate. |
| Trump's invincible, but for how much longer? | Trump's invincible, but for how much longer? |
| Analysis by Jon Sopel, BBC North America Editor | Analysis by Jon Sopel, BBC North America Editor |
| Presidents have always commanded attention. Theodore Roosevelt called the White House his "bully pulpit" - the place from which he could demand attention and advance his agenda. | Presidents have always commanded attention. Theodore Roosevelt called the White House his "bully pulpit" - the place from which he could demand attention and advance his agenda. |
| But Donald Trump has his own bully pulpit, 55 million Twitter followers and a penchant for saying the outrageous. | But Donald Trump has his own bully pulpit, 55 million Twitter followers and a penchant for saying the outrageous. |
| You feel that everything in American life is a reaction to what Donald Trump has said: his followers adoring it, his opponents deploring it and the candidates actually on the ballot trying to get a word in edgeways. | You feel that everything in American life is a reaction to what Donald Trump has said: his followers adoring it, his opponents deploring it and the candidates actually on the ballot trying to get a word in edgeways. |
| And this has generated real excitement in these elections - both for and against him. | And this has generated real excitement in these elections - both for and against him. |
| Read the rest of Jon's analysis here. | Read the rest of Jon's analysis here. |
| What happens on election day? | What happens on election day? |
| After months of campaigning, speculation, and billions of dollars spent on adverts, leaflets and bumper stickers, voters will have their final say on Tuesday. | After months of campaigning, speculation, and billions of dollars spent on adverts, leaflets and bumper stickers, voters will have their final say on Tuesday. |
| Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives have raised $649m (£500m) from individual donors, more than double the $312m tally for the Republicans. | Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives have raised $649m (£500m) from individual donors, more than double the $312m tally for the Republicans. |
| Democrats are hoping to achieve a "mid-term wave" - a sweeping victory that changes the shape of the political map in the US. | Democrats are hoping to achieve a "mid-term wave" - a sweeping victory that changes the shape of the political map in the US. |
| Some 34.3 million people have cast early ballots and the real number is probably higher, according to the US Elections Project, a University of Florida-based information source. That figure in 2014 was just 27.5 million. | Some 34.3 million people have cast early ballots and the real number is probably higher, according to the US Elections Project, a University of Florida-based information source. That figure in 2014 was just 27.5 million. |
| In Texas, early voting has exceeded the entire turnout in 2014. | In Texas, early voting has exceeded the entire turnout in 2014. |
| However, thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday along the eastern coast, as well as snowstorms in the Midwest, which could affect turnout. | However, thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday along the eastern coast, as well as snowstorms in the Midwest, which could affect turnout. |
| What you need to know about mid-terms: | What you need to know about mid-terms: |
| Five races to watch | |
| Kentucky's 6th district | |
| The first polls close at 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT) in Kentucky, and the state could provide some early indications of where the night is heading. | |
| The race for the 6th district is between third-term Republican Rep Andy Barr and retired Marine fighter pilot Democrat Amy McGrath. | |
| Mr Trump won here comfortably two years ago, so a Democrat victory would be a worrying sign for Republicans. | |
| Florida's governorship | |
| A left-wing progressive and a Trumpist conservative are battling to become Florida's governor. | |
| The race is tight in a state that is usually evenly divided, so the result will also be looked at as a sign of things to come. | |
| Georgia's governorship | |
| Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams will become the first female African-American governor in the US if she wins. | |
| Republican opponent Brian Kemp's office has been accused of voter suppression, one of the hot-button issues this year. | |
| The race has been divisive, and you can read more about how it developed here. | |
| Texas Senate | |
| This contest has received national media attention, with high-profile Republican Ted Cruz being closely challenged by Democrat Beto O'Rourke. | |
| Mr O'Rourke is viewed as a rising star in the party and could become the first Democratic senator in Texas for more than two decades if he wins. | |
| Arizona Senate | |
| This race is as close as they come. | |
| Martha McSally, a two-term Republican representative from Arizona, is running against Democrat Kyrsten Sinema. | |
| Whoever wins will make history by becoming the first woman to represent the state in the Senate. | |
| What are the key issues? | What are the key issues? |
| During his final campaign rallies in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri, Mr Trump returned to his key campaign issues, insisting that Democrats would damage the economy and allow more illegal immigration. | During his final campaign rallies in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri, Mr Trump returned to his key campaign issues, insisting that Democrats would damage the economy and allow more illegal immigration. |
| Democratic candidates, meanwhile, have tended to avoid directly confronting the president, focusing instead on so-called "kitchen table" issues, such as healthcare and economic inequality. | Democratic candidates, meanwhile, have tended to avoid directly confronting the president, focusing instead on so-called "kitchen table" issues, such as healthcare and economic inequality. |
| The party hopes younger voters, suburban moderates and minorities will be drawn to the polls to react against the president's rhetoric. | The party hopes younger voters, suburban moderates and minorities will be drawn to the polls to react against the president's rhetoric. |
| Mr Trump has faced widespread criticism for his divisive language. | Mr Trump has faced widespread criticism for his divisive language. |
| On Monday, Facebook, NBC and even Mr Trump's favourite network, Fox News, announced they would stop broadcasting a 30-second ad paid for by his campaign, which featured an undocumented Mexican immigrant. | On Monday, Facebook, NBC and even Mr Trump's favourite network, Fox News, announced they would stop broadcasting a 30-second ad paid for by his campaign, which featured an undocumented Mexican immigrant. |
| In an interview with ABC on Monday, the president said he wished he had taken "a much softer tone" throughout his presidency. | In an interview with ABC on Monday, the president said he wished he had taken "a much softer tone" throughout his presidency. |
| "I feel, to a certain extent, I have no choice, but maybe I do, and maybe I could have been softer from that standpoint." | "I feel, to a certain extent, I have no choice, but maybe I do, and maybe I could have been softer from that standpoint." |