Ranchers in deep-red Oklahoma are so angry at President Trump for tanking the state's huge beef industry that a Democrat gubernatorial hopeful is within three points of taking the state.
asserted
hopeful → tank → state
Trump enraged beef farmers in the staunchly-Republican state by lowering tarrifs on beef from Argentina and Brazil in February.
asserted
Trump → enrage → February
He did so because beef has become prohibitively expensive thanks in large part to his hugely-unpopular Iran war, which has driven up the cost of living.
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which → do → living
Ranchers in The Sooner State told The Washington Post they're distraught by Trump's antics - with Democrat gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson now enjoying a surprise surge thanks to the president's unpopularity.
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Munson → tell → unpopularity
She is polling just three points below Republican nominee Mike Mazzei.
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She → poll → Mazzei
If Munson wins she'd be the first Democrat governor in Oklahoma since 2006.
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she → win → 2006
Scott Belden said that his cattle farm in the town of Broken Arrow was finally making 'good money' for the first time in a decade before the Trump tariffs.
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farm → say → tariffs
Belden said Trump devastated the beef markets and dropped the price of cattle at auctions, and he begun losing up to $250 per calf.
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he → say → calf
He has also been hit hard by sharp spikes in the cost of diesel - another issue created by the Iran war.
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He → hit → war
'I’m not a huge political guy, but it’s probably the most gut punch I’ve ever felt,' the rancher said.
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rancher → ’m → ?
The farm worker is among many voters who say they feel disappointed in Trump's handling of the economy in his second term.
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they → say → term
Ranchers in deep-red Oklahoma say they have been let down by President Trump after he undercut their farms by lowering tariffs on importing beef from South America
President
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he → say → America
Trump is facing a daunting midterm election outlook, with polls showing Republicans are likely to lose ground across the nation when voters head to the ballot box on November 3
To add insult to injury, Trump last week joked to a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, that most of the crowd would be far too poor to order a hamburger at his Mar-a-Lago country club in Palm Beach, Florida.
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most → face → Beach
'You could even come to Mar-a-Lago.
uncertain
You → come → Lago
I said it the other night.
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I → say → it
You'll be my guest at Mar-a-Lago,' Trump told the crowd.
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Trump → tell → crowd
The problem is that for $5,000, the most you'll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert.
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you → buy → 5,000
I'm not even sure you could buy that.'
uncertain
you → buy → that
Despite GOP Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Mazzei hugely outspending Munson - including pouring over $12 million of his own fortune into his campaign - the tightening race thrust Oklahoma into the national spotlight.
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race → outspende → spotlight
The Democratic Governors Association went on to put $500,000 into Munson's campaign, sensing the opportunity to help fund a potential political upset.
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Association → go → upset
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has also shifted its rating of the Oklahoma gubernatorial race from 'Solid Republican' to 'Likely Republican', among several midwest states to see a leftward tilt in recent weeks.
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Report → shift → weeks
The shift led Trump to hold rallies in Oklahoma for Mazzei and to deploy several top GOP figures to campaign, which was reportedly at the request of Mazzei to help his candidacy.
uncertain
which → lead → candidacy
Voters in the state say while they typically lean Republican, they are second guessing their votes.
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they → say → votes
Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma, Mike Mazzei, finds himself in an unusually tight race against his Democratic opponent
Democrat Cyndi Munson has surprised observers with her close-run race in Oklahoma
Trump has been criss-crossing the nation for Republican candidates in the final weeks ahead of the midterms
Oklahoma resident Chastin Johnson-Leggett told the Washington Post that he has been a Trump voter in the past and has previously campaigned for Republicans, but now feels frustrated by the GOP.
The 36-year-old said he runs a farm with cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits, and he said he blames Trump's tariffs for raising the cost of feeding his flock throughout the year.
'I have to start to wonder: How can I continue to support a party that’s not supporting us?' he said.
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he → find → us
Mazzei told the Post that he also disagrees with Trump's handling of the beef industry, but said he remains a strong supporter of the president.
'We so appreciate their hard work to feed Oklahoma and feed America with great American beef, and so, this particular matter, I support them and will always stand with Oklahoma farmers and ranchers,' the Republican candidate said.
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candidate → tell → farmers
For Munson, she said she believes Republican voters may be swayed by their concerns not being met, who want their officials 'regardless of what level of government they’re in, to respond to their needs and not just do what the president says.'
uncertain
president → say → what
Trump's appearance on the campaign trail for Mazzei comes as the president has been criss-crossing the nation for Republican candidates in the final weeks ahead of the midterms.
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president → come → midterms
Polls show Kansas on track to elect its first Democrat senator since 1932, while quintessentially-conservative Texas looks set to opt for progressive Democrat James Talarico.
Trump's rallies have been plagued by a persistent theme of protesters and agitators interrupting his remarks and throwing his events into chaos.
The midterm blitz has also captured headlines for a number of bizarre remarks made by Trump, including on Friday where he told a crowd in Florida he was 'never particularly attracted' to his own sisters.
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he → show → sisters
At other events, Trump has repeatedly made references to the good looks of Republican candidates.
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Trump → make → candidates
Ohio Senator Jon Husted has been a particular target, with the president saying on a number of occasions that he has a 'great a**' to his supporters at rallies.
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he → say → rallies
The Aporia
