President Donald Trump told Texans to "pretend that I'm on the ballot" as he campaigned for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton in San Antonio on Wednesday night, using a high-profile rally to boost one of the GOP's most prominent candidates while touting his proposed $5,000 "Trump dividend" and awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens.During his third visit to Texas in less than a month on Wednesday, Trump told Texans that Democrats would open the state's borders and ruin the economy, urging them to vote for Paxton and down-ballot Republicans. The president's show of support at Freeman Coliseum comes during the final weeks of a race that has drawn national attention because of its competitive polling, outsized $440 million spending and the controversial profile of the longtime Texas attorney general whose career has been shaped by legal and ethical controversies. Paxton remains one of Trump's most loyal allies, even as the president has faced investigations, litigation and impeachment proceedings.
At a rally last week, Trump called Paxton a "pain in the ass," but he said this week that he doesn't regret endorsing him over incumbent Republican John Cornyn, who some pundits believed to be a safer choice. Trump reassured the crowd that he remains fully behind Paxton, despite months of turbulence in the Senate race. Trump called Paxton "perhaps the greatest attorney general in the United States of America" and said he was "probably the greatest attorney general in the history of the state of Texas." He also predicted Paxton would become "one of the best senators that we have in this country." He repeatedly urged supporters to vote for Paxton and framed the race as critical to preserving Texas' conservative identity.
"We want good ol'-fashioned Texas values," Trump said. "If they get in, they will open your borders and let the entire world pour in." Paxton was brought on stage to make a one-minute remark about 80 minutes into the rally. He used the moment to praise Trump.
"The thing I love about President Trump is he's here for us. He believes in this country. He's out fighting every day." Trump asked supporters—as he has repeatedly during his red-state rallies—to "pretend that I'm on the ballot." He argued that Republicans perform better when he is on the ballot and urged Texans to vote as if the election were about him personally.
He also touted his electoral history in Texas, saying Republicans had won the state "all three times" and claiming he had received more votes than any candidate in Texas history. Trump attempted to nationalize the contest and tie it directly to his own brand and said the country is in "the Golden Age of America." He reiterated his promise to give Americans $5,000 apiece if Republicans hold Congress. He said the checks would be sent within two days of victory.
If Democrats win, he said, the country would enter a 1920s-type depression. He also touted that 20 million senior citizens will receive checks for $100 for Medicare reimbursements starting this week. "We're giving that money back to American seniors, as I promised," he said.
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