The Cairns Post

US in poll position

Trump cites migrant threat in last-minute appeal to voters

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US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has used his final Florida campaign event before elections tomorrow to implore supporters to send Republican­s to the governor’s mansion and the US Senate, claiming that allowing Democrats to win either office would bring ruin to the state he also calls home.

Mr Trump returned to Florida for the second time in a week to help rally support for Governor Rick Scott, who is challengin­g Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.

Mr Trump also sought to boost former Republican Ron DeSantis, who is facing off against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic mayor of Tallahasse­e, in the race for governor.

Mr Trump argued that Mr Gillum would “destroy Florida” and claimed that his policies would be a “total nightmare” for the state.

“You have only one choice, Ron DeSantis for governor,” Mr Trump told thousands of cheering supporters at a rally at Pensacola Internatio­nal Airport, with Air Force One parked right outside the hangar.

Mr Trump also criticised Mr Nelson, claiming that he only sees the former astronaut “around election time when he’s on television every night”.

Mr Trump also campaigned in Montana, where he made it clear that he wants to see Democrat Jon Tester booted from the Senate tomorrow. At both events, Mr Trump sought to rally the energised crowds by talking up the economy and tax cuts, new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, border security and several caravans of Central American migrants who are slowly advancing towards the US-Mexico border.

He also defended his decision to focus almost exclusivel­y on the migrants and immigratio­n in the closing days of the election.

He recently announced that he intended to change asylum procedures, end the constituti­onal guarantee of birthright citizenshi­p and build numerous “tent cities” to hold migrants caught crossing the border illegally.

 ?? Pictures: AP PHOTO ?? POLITICAL PAWNS: Central American migrants, part of the caravan hoping to reach the US border, have featured heavily in campaignin­g for the US elections this week by politician­s including US President Donald Trump (below), who made an appearance in Pensacola, Florida, on the weekend.
Pictures: AP PHOTO POLITICAL PAWNS: Central American migrants, part of the caravan hoping to reach the US border, have featured heavily in campaignin­g for the US elections this week by politician­s including US President Donald Trump (below), who made an appearance in Pensacola, Florida, on the weekend.
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