Key facts
- Republicans have spent less than 1% of their ad spending on TV spots mentioning Trump.
- Democrats have spent nearly $23 million on ads mentioning Trump in the first half of September.
- Trump's national approval rating is 36%, according to CNN's Poll of Polls.
Donald Trump is actively campaigning to support Republican candidates in the lead-up to the midterm elections, but many are strategically distancing themselves from him in their advertising and on the campaign trail. Democrats have significantly outspent Republicans in ads mentioning Trump, utilizing his low approval ratings to tie GOP candidates to him. A CNN analysis found that Republican advertisers have aired a minimal number of ads mentioning Trump since September, representing less than 1% of their total ad spending. This contrasts sharply with previous election cycles when Trump's endorsement was more actively sought. Some Republican strategists believe that while Trump can help mobilize the base, focusing too heavily on him could be detrimental.