Trump said he would campaign in midterm battlegrounds. He's starting in deep red states instead

President Donald Trump has vowed to campaign in 35 of the most competitive battleground districts during the final sprint toward November's midterm elections. Despite this stated focus on battleground areas, he is instead beginning the month of October by stumping in Alabama and Oklahoma.

Both Alabama and Oklahoma are characterized as two of the most deeply Republican, red states in the country. The initial campaign stops diverge from the president's earlier pledges to target competitive districts as the midterm elections approach.