US midterms 2022: Joe Biden says democracy at stake as Republicans eye ‘red wave’
- US President Joe Biden and Donald Trump headline dueling rallies ahead of US midterms on Tuesday
- Some polls favour Republicans to win control of the House of Representatives - and possibly the Senate as well
US President Joe Biden pulled out the stops to mobilise US voters in defence of democracy, hoping to counter a Republican “red wave” in this week’s midterms that could help set Donald Trump on a course back to the White House.
“If you all show up and vote, democracy sustained, not a joke,” the 79-year-old told a rally in upstate New York on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
“This is your generation’s moment to defend it. To preserve it. To choose it,” Biden told the audience at St Lawrence University, turning solemn as he recalled last year’s assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters refusing to accept defeat.
At the southern end of the Atlantic coast, in Miami, Trump held a competing rally in support of Florida Republican candidates - but his own political future was more front and centre.
“I will probably have to do it again,” teased the 76-year-old, sporting his iconic red hat - urging supporters to “stay tuned” for his final campaign rally, Monday night in the Midwestern state of Ohio.
Carrying signs saying “Again!” the crowd yelled back “Four more years!” - the length of a US presidential term.