Summary
Overview
Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer analyze the final days before the 2026 midterm elections, dissecting Trump's chaotic campaign rallies, the surprisingly competitive South Carolina Senate race, Obama's masterful Cheesecake Factory clapback, and what to watch for on election night. They discuss polling, the Alaska ballot confusion controversy, and offer reassurance to anxious Democrats heading into Tuesday's vote.
Trump's Erratic Final Campaign Push
Trump held a disjointed rally in South Carolina that showcased his inability to stay on message even when trying to help Republican candidates. Rather than focusing on the competitive Senate race, he rambled about Michigan candidates, praised Lindsey Graham for not attending, and undermined confidence by saying Republicans always lose midterms. The performance exemplified how Trump prioritizes his own grievances over party success, while a New York Times report revealed his increasingly isolated White House operation with aides feeding him memes and AI-generated content.
- Trump's South Carolina rally focused on everything except the local Senate race, including lengthy discussions of Michigan candidates and Lindsey Graham's absence
- New York Times reported Trump is increasingly cloistered with aides like Natalie Harp and Bill Pulte who feed him memes and favorable press coverage
- Trump sent his Treasury Secretary Scott Besant to a Cheesecake Factory to respond to Obama's joke, revealing misplaced priorities
- Republican advisers warned that Trump's appearances could hurt candidates in close races, but his team discounted this concern
" If you're president, Republican or Democrat, for whatever reason, you don't win the midterms. We have the biggest rallies ever in history, and you'll never – I hope you enjoy it because you're never going to see it again. "
" It's like he's trying to lose the midterms. Or I mean, I guess maybe the way to put it is he just wants to do his thing without any regard to anyone else, which is should not be surprising anyone. "
South Carolina Senate Race Surprisingly Competitive
A New York Times/Siena poll showed the South Carolina Senate race tied at 48-48 between Democrat Annie Andrews and Republican Darlene Graham, a shocking result in a state Trump won by 18 points. The poll revealed Graham's significant vulnerabilities, including negative favorability ratings and concerns about her experience. Democrats need everything to go right—high Black turnout, midterm-level white turnout, strong performance with independents, and some Republican crossover—but the race being competitive at all represents a dramatic shift in the political landscape.
- Time/Siena poll shows the race tied 48-48, with both candidates reaching 48% indicating Andrews can grow her vote share beyond previous Democratic performances
- South Carolinians view Graham negatively with a plurality saying she lacks experience to be an effective senator, while 54% think Andrews has the experience
- Trump won South Carolina by 18 points, making any competitive race remarkable evidence of the political environment's shift
- Democrats need presidential-year Black turnout combined with midterm-level white turnout, plus strong independent performance to win
" The fact that it is tied in this poll and the fact that we're even talking about this at all, when Donald Trump won the state by 18, is crazy. And also evidence of, like, just how far the country has shifted or the electorate has shifted. And how bad a candidate Darlene Graham is. "
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