US midterms enter final week as Trump, Obama and Harris campaign in key states

With six days left before the November 3 US midterm elections, Democrats are leading Republicans in national polling while several key Senate races remain too close to call. The final stretch of campaigning has brought President Donald Trump to Texas and Ohio, while former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris are campaigning for Democrats in Georgia. The race is now entering its most intense phase, with both parties focusing on turnout and undecided voters.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from October 22 to 26 put Democratic support at 47 percent, compared with 36 percent for Republicans. When undecided voters were included, the Democrats led 50 percent to 41 percent. The same survey showed Trump's approval rating rising by one point to 32 percent, while 73 percent of US adults said the cost of living was moving in the wrong direction.

Those figures underline the economic concerns shaping the campaign in its closing days. Trump held two Republican rallies in Texas on Tuesday before heading to Ohio on Wednesday, according to the report. In Texas, where Democrats have not won a Senate election since 1988, the contest between James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is described as virtually tied.

The report also says local analysis suggests more Republicans may have voted early than Democrats, although that does not necessarily mean those voters are backing Republican candidates. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are also in a closely contested Senate race. The polling and campaign activity matter because control of the Senate can shape the next phase of US domestic politics.

Close races in Texas, Ohio and Georgia are drawing national attention, and the final week of campaigning is often decisive in mobilising turnout. The presence of Trump, Obama and Harris in different battleground states shows how both parties are using high-profile figures to energise their bases and influence undecided voters. The report also points to the broader political backdrop of the midterms, with Democrats trying to convert a national polling lead into seat gains and Republicans seeking to narrow the gap in key states.

Texas stands out because of its long Republican history in Senate elections, while Georgia remains a central battleground for Democrats. The campaign has also been shaped by voter concerns over the cost of living, which remains a dominant issue in the polling. What remains unclear is how the final days of campaigning will affect turnout and whether the national polling lead will translate into results in individual Senate races.

The report says several contests are still too close to call, and the outcome may depend on late-deciding voters and early voting patterns. The next major focus will be whether the candidates' final rallies and media appearances shift momentum before election day.

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