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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a midterm campaign rally in Kentucky. / Reuters, Yonhap

With about two weeks left until the midterm elections, U.S. President Donald Trump pledged that the Department of Defense will invest 100 million dollars (approx. 133.5 billion won) in a Kentucky pharmaceutical facility if Republicans win. Amid a mounting sense of crisis within the Republican Party that it could lose its majority status in both the Senate and the House, the move is interpreted as an attempt to rally the base by putting forward even federal government investments.

During a campaign rally supporting Republicans held in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on the 17th (local time), President Trump said, "If Republicans win, the Department of Defense will invest 100 million dollars in pharmaceutical company Antheia to revive a large-scale medicine manufacturing facility in Winchester, Kentucky." He also made claims to the effect that such investments cannot be made if Democrats win.

President Trump defined this midterm election as "the most important midterm election in U.S. history," appealing to voters to cast ballots for Republican candidates as if his name were on the ballot. He also emphasized that Republicans must retain their congressional majorities to carry forward the policies of his second term.

Although Kentucky is traditionally a region with strong Republican support, President Trump personally campaigning there in the final stretch of the election appears to be a move with contests in adjacent key areas, including Ohio, also in mind. Highland Heights is located in northern Kentucky, bordering Cincinnati, Ohio.

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U.S. President Donald Trump gestures at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center located in Wasilla, Alaska, on the 13th (local time). / Reuters, Yonhap

During the rally, President Trump lent his support to Republican candidates in other regions as well, including Ohio, in addition to Kentucky.

In Ohio, in particular, Republican Senator Jon Husted is facing off against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. For Republicans, this is one of the battleground seats they cannot afford to lose if they are to retain their Senate majority. President Trump has been investing significant effort in supporting the Republican candidate, visiting Ohio twice this month alone.

President Trump also dusted off pledges highlighting direct economic benefits. He reaffirmed his previous promise to distribute 5,000 dollars to every American adult if Republicans win the Senate and House elections. However, analysts point out that implementing this measure would require congressional approval, and total funding requirements could exceed 1 trillion dollars.

He stoked a sense of urgency among his base by claiming that impeachment proceedings against him could be pursued if Democrats win. He also repeated claims that election fraud was taking place in certain areas, though he provided no specific evidence to support them.

The backdrop behind President Trump pouring energy into campaign rallies in the final stretch is a political landscape shifting against Republicans. According to Reuters, with all 435 House seats and 35 of 100 Senate seats up for election in the midterms on the 3rd of next month, U.S. election analysts view Democrats as highly likely to retake the House majority.

The Senate races, initially assessed as leaning toward Republicans, have also shifted into tight contests recently, placing the Republican Party in a position where it must fight to defend its majority in both chambers.

                                                                                                            Nam Mi-kyung