Alaska is emerging as an important battleground in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate, with President Donald Trump saying he plans to campaign there before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Trump said he wants to give Alaska GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan a boost in a key contest that could decide whether Republicans hold onto their Senate majority.
"I will go to Alaska to help Dan Sullivan get elected," Trump said Sept. 2 during an Oval Office event.
Trump complained that another Republican on the ballot named Dan Sullivan could siphon votes away from the senator, who is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Mary Peltola.
"It's close for one reason, they have a phony Dan Sullivan," Trump said, adding: "So I will go to Alaska to make sure that a great
senator gets re-elected... I'm going to be going the last 30 days before the election."
Democrats are eying Alaska as a prime pickup opportunity as they seek to win control of the Senate. The contest is rated a tossup by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Peltola, a former House member, won the most votes in Alaska's nonpartisan primary, where the top four candidates advance to the general election. Peltola received 49.5% of the vote, compared with 41.5% for Sullivan, the incumbent senator, and 2.5% for the other Dan Sullivan, a retired school teacher. Republican Gerald Heikes also is on the general election ballot.
Recent surveys give Peltola a slight edge in the race.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to campaign against 'phony' in Alaska as Senate race looks tight
