CAMpAIGNING eNTeRs FINAl sTReTch

indianapolis— Former US president Barack Obama warned on Friday against rhetoric he said was meant to sow fear as he campaigned in support of Democratic candidates while President Donald Trump hammered a hardline antiimmigration message to energise Republicans.

In a packed day of campaigning ahead of Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections, Trump continued a blitz of rallies urging voters to keep his Republican Party in control of Congress, while Democrats appeared to notch a win in their efforts to halt the spread of misinformation online.

Twitter Inc said it had deleted over 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s elections and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company.

Obama hit on a common theme of Democratic campaigns — defending his signature 2010 healthcare law.

“We have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful,” Obama said in Miami. “But in four days, Florida, you can be a check on that kind of behavior.” Obama was flanked by gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, who faces former congressman and strong Trump backer Ron > campaigning for Democratic candidates, Obama warned Americans against embracing hostility and division in politics.

> Trump urged voters to keep his Republican Party in control of Congress.

> Republicans are challenging DeSantis, and Senator Bill Nelson, who is being challenged by the outgoing governor, Rick Scott.

Trump’s campaign stops were aimed at bolstering Republicans challenging incumbent Democratic senators in West Virginia and Indiana, states he won in the 2016 presidential election.

Speaking on behalf of Mike Braun, who is trying to replace Joe Donnelly in the Senate, Trump told a rally in Indianapolis: “If you want prosperity for your family, safety for your children and security for your country, vote for Mike Braun.” Trump was joined on stage by former incumbent Democratic senators in West Virginia and Indiana.

> Democrats are seen winning 23 additional seats and taking a majority in the House of Representatives.

> Republicans are favoured to retain control of the Senate.

We have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful

Barack Obama

If you want prosperity for your family, safety for your children and security for your country, vote for Mike Braun (Republican).

Donald Trump

Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, who led the crowd in a cheer “Go get’em Donald.” Opinion polls and non-partisan forecasters generally show Democrats with strong chances of winning 23 additional seats and taking a majority in the House of Representatives, which they could use to launch investigations into Trump’s administration and block his legislative agenda.

Republicans are favoured to retain control of the Senate, whose powers include confirming Trump’s nominations to lifetime seats on the Supreme Court. —