Trump cancels two midterm rallies as US campaign nears end

Republican President Donald Trump has cancelled scheduled rally appearances in Iowa and Kansas, days before the US midterm elections on November 3, according to Al Jazeera. The Republican National Committee confirmed the change in a statement on Thursday.

The RNC said the cancelled events will be replaced by virtual tele-rallies broadcast to nearly 20 states, including Michigan, Alaska, Texas and Iowa. It said more events may be announced in the coming days. Trump's rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday will go ahead as planned.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said: "Voters across the country want to hear from President Trump before Election Day, and this 72-hour sprint will be a huge boost in the closing days."

Trump had planned to visit Salina, Kansas, on Saturday. He said: "I don't feel I have to go to Kansas." A CNN poll released Thursday shows Democrat Adam Hamilton leading Republican Senator Roger Marshall 49 percent to 45 percent in the state. Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.

Neither Trump nor Democratic former President Barack Obama is on the ballot, but both have taken prominent roles in the closing stretch, France 24 reported. Obama has addressed three rallies this week, the latest in Atlanta, Georgia.

Thirty-five of the 100 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are being contested. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and 218 House seats. Nonpartisan analysts generally favor Democrats to win a House majority, while the Senate contest is seen as very close.

Harvard's ElectIt model estimates a 94 percent chance that Democrats take the House and a 74 percent chance that they win a Senate majority. Al Jazeera reported that Trump has voiced concern that Democrats could push to impeach him for a third time if they win both chambers.

BBC News reported that more than 43 million ballots have already been cast in early voting.