Why farmers could sink GOP midterm hopes With the midterm elections a week away, Republicans face an unexpected blow to one of their most trusted voting blocs: farmers and rural voters. Rising production costs — driven by the Iran war, Trump's tariff and trade wars, and rising diesel and fertilizer prices — have left farmers angry and feeling neglected. A KFF/AP poll found about 6 in 10 rural voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, and an American Farm Bureau survey found 94 percent of farmers say their economic situation has worsened or stagnated over the past year. The Trump administration has released plenty of late-stage aid: an $8 billion harvest fuel relief program, a $1.3 billion investment in a fertilizer plant announced by VP Vance in Nebraska, year-round sales of E15 ethanol and expanded availability of red-dyed diesel. But critics -- including the leaders of Iowa and Kansas farm unions -- are calling it "too little, too late" and a "Hail Mary" two weeks before the election. Some farm groups responded by supporting Democratic candidates. Village voters don't necessarily turn blue; More likely, disillusioned Republicans might just stay home. With close races in farm states like Ohio, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, even a drop in voter turnout — or marginal defections to blue-collar Democrats — could affect the results. Experts warn that taking the rural vote for granted is dangerous, given its independent streak. Meanwhile the White House is defending Trump's record, blaming Biden for previous cost increases and introducing new trade deals and tax breaks. Do not miss tenure in the USA.

Why farmers could sink GOP midterm hopes With the midterm elections a week away, Republicans face an unexpected blow to one of their most trusted voting blocs: farmers and rural voters. Rising production costs — driven by the Iran war, Trump's tariff and trade wars, and rising diesel and fertilizer prices — have left farmers angry and feeling neglected. A KFF/AP poll found about 6 in 10 rural voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, and an American Farm Bureau survey found 94 percent of farmers say their economic situation has worsened or stagnated over the past year. The Trump administration has released plenty of late-stage aid: an $8 billion harvest fuel relief program, a $1.3 billion investment in a fertilizer plant announced by VP Vance in Nebraska, year-round sales of E15 ethanol and expanded availability of red-dyed diesel. But critics -- including the leaders of Iowa and Kansas farm unions -- are calling it "too little, too late" and a "Hail Mary" two weeks before the election. Some farm groups responded by supporting Democratic candidates. Village voters don't necessarily turn blue; More likely, disillusioned Republicans might just stay home. With close races in farm states like Ohio, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, even a drop in voter turnout — or marginal defections to blue-collar Democrats — could affect the results. Experts warn that taking the rural vote for granted is dangerous, given its independent streak. Meanwhile the White House is defending Trump's record, blaming Biden for previous cost increases and introducing new trade deals and tax breaks. Do not miss tenure in the USA.