In Dalton, in northeastern Georgia, Trump folded an industrial revival message into a monthlong sprint to Election Day on Nov. 3. He said that with Republicans in charge, US exports are rising and factories are busy, and warned those gains could be at risk if Democrats win either chamber of Congress.
He highlighted planned investments from UCB SA, Pirelli & C. Spa, and Hyundai Motor Co. as proof of momentum. He also attacked his opponent directly, saying, "For decades, blue-collar workers in Georgia were betrayed by corrupt, heartless, globalist politicians like Ossoff."
Even as he leans into that economic pitch, his approval rating is at record lows. Across House and Senate races, backlash over rising prices and ongoing hostilities with Iran is dragging on GOP contenders, threatening the party's grip on Congress. His travel has focused on mobilizing conservative supporters rather than courting swing or independent voters, underscoring a defensive map even in former strongholds.
Voters are zeroed in on what they pay for groceries, healthcare, housing, and especially energy. Fresh figures indicate that in September US consumer prices climbed by the most since April, propelled by a surge in fuel costs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rising prices are eating into paychecks, strengthening the case for additional Federal Reserve rate increases in the coming months.
Trump has insisted gasoline prices will fall when the Iran war concludes, but the conflict is now in its eighth month with no clear off-ramp. On the ground in Dalton, 47-year-old Roger Bowling - who stated he had cast his ballot for Trump three times - summed it up this way: "I'm not happy about the gas price though," and, "If I had to ask Trump one question it would be when are going to get out of Iran?"
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Georgia is central in the fight for Senate control. Republicans aim to oust incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, but surveys indicate their nominee, US Representative Mike Collins, is trailing. The RealClearPolitics polling average has Ossoff up by roughly 8 percentage points.
On Friday, Trump revisited election fraud allegations, claiming Ossoff won his seat because of a "rigged election." The Democrat narrowly lost the initial round against then Senator David Perdue, but later captured the runoff. Ossoff's campaign said Trump peddled "debunked and recycled election denial claims" but "ridicules the rising cost of living crisis affecting Georgia families." "Georgians will hold Mike Collins accountable at the polls in just 18 days," said Ossoff campaign spokesperson Ellie Dougherty in a statement.
In Georgia, Trump's persistent assertions of a rigged vote have sparked concern that he could seek federal involvement in counting the state's ballots next month. He carried Georgia in 2016 but fell short there in 2020, after which he advanced baseless claims of a far-reaching election fraud scheme. Prosecutors in the state later charged Trump and several close associates with election interference, though the case was ultimately dismissed.
In 2024, he edged out a narrow victory in the state. Polls show the governor's contest tight as well, with Republican Rick Jackson marginally ahead of Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
The speech leans on future factory projects, while voters are focused on today's bills. With September showing the strongest inflation since April and paychecks getting squeezed, markets will keep handicapping the odds of more Fed hikes, which would keep borrowing costs elevated.
Georgia's results will turn on energy, wages, and rates - the same trio steering risk assets. The bottom line: track pump prices and the rate path as closely as the polls, because both flow straight into your portfolio.
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