Republicans open unusual midterm convention in Dallas, putting Trump at campaign's center

The Republican Party opened an unusual midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon, an event described as a kind of "Trump-a-Palooza" tied to this fall's midterm elections. The gathering has placed President Donald Trump at the center of the campaign, regardless of whether individual candidates running this cycle welcome that positioning.

Analyst's view

Speaking to FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Professor Todd Belt, Director of the Political Management Programme at George Washington University, offered his assessment of Trump's role heading into the midterms. According to Belt, Trump believes in the power of his own charisma as a political force.

Context

In midterm election years, Republican candidates typically weigh how closely to align their campaigns with a sitting president. This year's unusually structured convention suggests party leadership has chosen to make Trump the central figure of the fall campaign, a decision that will shape the strategies of candidates who might otherwise prefer to run more independent, distanced campaigns.