Trump wants voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. The Republican Party is going along for the ride

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans will descend on Dallas this week for a two-day convention dreamed up by President Donald Trump to rally his supporters ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Trump has said he wanted to channel the kind of political extravaganza that each party holds every four years to formally nominate a presidential candidate and showcase their vision for the country. There’s even going to be a huge drop of balloons at the end.

Republicans have never held a midterm convention before, although Democrats did in the 1970s and 1980s. Here are some things to watch Wednesday and Thursday: Why is this happening? Trump had long floated the idea of holding such a convention and Republicans worked to make his wish a reality.

Midterms are often difficult for the party in power in Washington, and Trump believes the event can juice enthusiasm for the party and boost turnout among his voters. “Pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said recently in South Carolina. “Just come and vote.” Republicans said the event will help catapult its candidates into November, but it will also showcase the first two years of Trump’s term.

Although the president’s poll numbers are sagging, he insists that running on his record will give Republicans their best shot at winning. The presidential nominating conventions that are held every four years by Republicans and Democrats typically draw thousands of rank-and-file party members chosen as delegates to represent their states and participate in the ceremonial nominating process. No nominations are going to be awarded this time, since that’s already been settled by primary contests.

The event will also be open to the public, which could make it feel more like a Trump rally than a convention. More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to be in Dallas, according to a person familiar with the event who requested anonymity before it begins. They were required to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging, which the person described as typical for political conventions.

Some lawmakers in competitive races have indicated they won’t go or hadn’t determined their plans less than a week before the convention. On Wednesday, he’s delivering a keynote address. On Thursday, he’s scheduled to appear after again after a …