Republicans begin two-day midterm convention billed as a 'Trump-a-Palooza'

DALLAS (AP) — Republicans opened their highly unusual midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon, a “Trump-a-Palooza” that is putting the president at the center of this fall’s midterm elections — whether the candidates running like it or not.Many party members, including those facing tight races, are skipping the two-day affair, citing conflicting obligations or balking at demands that they pony up for access. Others are hoping an appearance alongside President Donald Trump will put them in the national spotlight as they work to turn out his voters without him on the ballot.The convention, which is part rally and part fundraiser, comes as Republicans try to boost enthusiasm heading into the midterms’ final stretch despite Trump’s low approval ratings. Much of the programming will focus on Democrats, trying to cast them as extremists by highlighting the party’s insurgent left wing, while portraying Republicans as the party of “common sense.”Coinciding with the gathering, Trump’s political operation, which has been sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars, began spending heavily through a new group, the No Going Back PAC Inc., The New York Times first reported Wednesday.

The group has reserved $47 million in six competitive Senate races and one competitive House race.That’s in addition to the $10 million that MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC, has spent on the Texas Senate race.The lineup features Trump and more TrumpNormal political conventions are held every four years and serve a purpose beyond pomp and circumstance, with parties formally nominating their presidential picks. In 2024, Trump used the opportunity to announce JD Vance as his running mate.The schedule this week released by organizers makes clear that the convention will be The Trump Show, through and through.“It’s gonna be a Trump-a-Palooza,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters told Spectrum News.Boarding Air Force One to fly to Dallas, Trump said: “We’re going to have a tremendous crowd tonight.”“Looks very big. Looks very exciting, and we’re going to explain what we’ve done,” Trump said.But he also told reporters that oil prices — which have surged because of the Iran war — likely won’t come down until after the midterms, a bit of economic forecasting that could darken his party's fortunes.“Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” he promised.Trump's comments came …