Some Republicans want Donald Trump to use the first midterm convention to talk about what Congress has accomplished, rather than about himself. The event opens in Dallas on 9 September. Parties normally hold conventions only when a president is on the ballot. This one does not select a candidate, approve a platform or count votes.
Dozens of Republicans made that request to Politico this week. The reason is simple arithmetic. Trump's approval rating stood at 33 per cent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on 31 August, its lowest level of his current term. Key races on 3 November will determine which party controls Congress and whether Trump can get his legislative agenda through.
