ATLANTA — With less than 30 days until the November midterm elections, candidates across the country are making their final push to win over voters as several closely watched Senate races enter their final weeks.
Polls show some Republican candidates trailing their Democratic opponents, raising questions about how the party will approach the final stretch of the campaign.
ABC News’ Rachel Scott reports that some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from President Donald Trump as they search for a message that will appeal to voters.
“It’s clear Republicans are searching for some sort of winning message, and by the way things are going it seems like that winning message might be creating daylight between themselves and the leader of the Republican Party, President Trump,” Scott said.
The conflict with Iran has also become a point of disagreement among Republicans, with some candidates calling for an immediate end to the conflict despite the White House’s position.
Three U.S. Senate debates scheduled for Thursday are drawing attention to races in Georgia, Michigan and Maine.
In Georgia, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is preparing to face Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in their first debate. Republicans have shifted some television advertising away from Georgia as Ossoff continues his reelection campaign.
The candidates are expected to address several issues affecting Georgians, including rising energy costs, data center development, challenges facing farmers, rural health care and infrastructure.
The race has also featured criticism from both candidates. Ossoff has accused Collins of having ties to white nationalists, while Collins has claimed Ossoff is using his position in the Senate to prepare for a possible presidential campaign.
In Michigan, Democratic candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed holds a narrow lead in polling over former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. Some Democrats have expressed concerns that El-Sayed’s progressive positions could make the general election more difficult.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is facing Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Maine. Collins has shown signs of strength in the closing weeks of the race, while Jackson received an endorsement from former President Barack Obama in a video released Thursday morning.
The debates come as candidates work to reach undecided voters before the November election.
Georgia’s senate debate is scheduled to begin on Thursday at 7pm.
