By Nathan Layne, Nandita Bose and Steve Holland
DALLAS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Republicans opened their unusual midterm convention on Wednesday by portraying Democrats as "dangerous" and "extreme" while praising President Donald Trump's record, making a risky bet that the president can energize core backers despite his broad unpopularity.
The two-day gathering underscores the extent to which Republicans' fortunes are tethered to Trump and serves as a showcase for their strategy ahead of the November 3
midterm elections.
The event is so centered on the president that Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters informally dubbed it "Trumpapalooza," a nod to the popular Lollapalooza music festival.
Many Republicans in competitive House and Senate races skipped the convention, underscoring concerns within the party that Trump's appeal to loyal supporters may not be enough to overcome voter dissatisfaction over inflation and the war on Iran.
Those in Dallas who took the stage early on Wednesday unleashed a stream of invective aimed at Democrats, offering political red meat to diehard Republicans by going after Democrats over issues such as transgender women in sports and border security.
Many called Democrats "socialists" and "communists," echoing one of Trump's favorite attack lines following a handful of victories by democratic socialists in Democratic primary elections.
Democrats are "dangerous, radical and weird," said Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chairman of the party's Senate campaign arm.
Wednesday's program also featured a surprise video from Democratic U.S. Senator John Fetterman, who introduced his Republican colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Dave McCormick, as his "great friend" while declaring he would work with Trump to protect the state's steel industry.
The virtual appearance appeared likely to emphasize the ideological divides plaguing the Democratic Party ahead of the midterms. Fetterman has denied speculation that he may leave the party.
The stakes are high for both parties. With the elections less than two months away, Republicans face the prospect of losing control of at least one chamber of Congress, with public polling showing Democrats more motivated to vote and Trump's approval ratings deeply underwater.
With no official party business on the agenda, the gathering resembled a Trump campaign rally more than a traditional party convention, which is held every four years to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Trump will speak both nights, delivering the keynote address on Wednesday and then offering the last word after Vice President JD Vance speaks on Thursday evening. In his remarks, Gruters described Trump as the "greatest president" in U.S. history and the "greatest Republican messenger of our lifetime."
At least 16 candidates in competitive House and Senate races were scheduled to speak, according to the RNC's schedule. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a close Trump ally who is locked in a tough Senate race with Democratic lawmaker James Talarico, delivered a brief speech on Wednesday.
Those staying away include Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan and Senator Susan Collins of Maine, both facing strong Democratic challengers this fall.
The party that controls the White House historically loses congressional seats in midterm elections, and Trump's popularity has sagged as the Iran war and his tariff regime have increased energy costs and consumer prices.
A CHANCE TO RALLY THE BASE
The convention will face stiff competition for viewers with the start of the NFL season, with opening night coinciding with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks and Thursday's program overlapping with a matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
Still, after months of negative headlines over the Iran war and inflation, many Republicans see the gathering as their best chance to promote candidates, draw contrasts with Democrats on affordability, immigration and healthcare, and energize a Republican electorate expressing less enthusiasm about voting than Democrats, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Trump cabinet members who will address the gathering include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whose comments are likely to be closely watched amid concerns about the growing U.S. debt and high cost of living.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dispatched four Democratic lawmakers to Dallas as part of the party's counter-programming effort.
"Americans are drowning in the failed Republican economy," Jeffries said in a statement. "Rather than taking a single step to lower costs, MAGA extremists are partying with their super-rich donors in Dallas."
(Reporting by Nathan Layne, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland and David Morgan; Editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller)
