Campaign Focus: Trump in Ohio, Obama in Georgia

President Donald Trump traveled to Ohio on Wednesday for his third visit this month, while former President Barack Obama campaigned in Georgia.

Trump has held more than 20 rallies in October as Republicans work to retain control of Congress after the election next week. His travel schedule includes stops in Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, and Iowa. Obama is appearing in Georgia alongside former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Senator Jon Ossoff. Bottoms is running to become the first Black woman elected governor in the United States.

Before boarding Air Force One for Ohio, Trump commented on the Alaska Senate race. He called on Democratic challenger Mary Peltola to withdraw and said she could face prosecution. The race includes a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, the same name as the Republican incumbent senator. Trump referenced a New York Times report regarding an effort to recruit the second Sullivan, describing the situation as "voter fraud at the highest level." Peltola's campaign issued a statement saying it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign." The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week to challenge the Alaska election results in advance.

In Ohio, the ballot includes Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor against Democrat Amy Acton, Ohio's former state health director. Ramaswamy's campaign released an advertisement featuring Donna Arthur, Acton's mother. Arthur, who has not seen her daughter in nearly 50 years, called her daughter "a liar." Acton has stated she has not seen her mother since 1978. Trump backed the ad, but Senator Jon Husted and other Republicans have distanced themselves from it. Former Senator Sherrod Brown is the Democratic nominee for Senate.

In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed addressed comments made by Trump at a rally in Wyandotte. "They want to point to me and my name. They're doing this because they're trying to distract us," El-Sayed said. He added, "Michiganders are big-hearted. We're open-minded. We don't care as much how you pray; rather, we care what you pray for." Jason Turkish, who is engaged to Rep. Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News that he believes El-Sayed is an antisemite and plans to support Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens has endorsed El-Sayed.

Vice President JD Vance campaigned in North Carolina at an airport rally in Kinston. "I don't just want the American dream for me or for my generation. I want it for you, and I want it for the generation that comes after us," Vance said. He accused Democrat Roy Cooper of working for "far-left activists" and stated, "I don't want the government to do everything for me. I don't want the government to be my nanny." The race to succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis features former national party chair Michael Whatley against Cooper.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had planned to attend the Ohio rally but canceled his trip, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the schedule had not been formally released. Trump appeared with Rubio in Texas on Tuesday. Obama previously criticized Trump regarding White House renovations and his personal wealth during a stop in Michigan.