Trump schedules Texas rallies to back Ken Paxton

President Donald Trump was scheduled to hold campaign rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock on Tuesday, October 27, to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton in his competitive race against Democrat James Talarico. The appearances were part of Trump’s final-week effort to help Republicans retain support in Texas ahead of the midterm elections next week. The rallies were planned as Talarico also campaigned in the state, including in Amarillo and Lubbock. The contest has drawn national attention as Democrats seek a statewide breakthrough in Texas, which has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in more than three decades. Reports described the Senate race as competitive, but did not establish whether Trump’s visit changed voter support. The itinerary was announced in advance; the reports did not confirm the rallies’ eventual completion. Trump used the Corpus Christi appearance to promote an arrangement for Venezuelan crude oil to be processed at Texas refineries. He called it “the greatest oil victory in history.” Accounts of the planned oil showcase described a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude, but the terms and scale of the arrangement were not detailed. The...