Trump defiant after day of Democrat wins
U.S. President Donald Trump came out swinging at a Wednesday (November 6) rally in Louisiana a day after Democrats scored victories in a series of local elections.
They claimed an upset victory for the Kentucky governors' office over a candidate backed by Trump and they gained ground in the key states of Virginia and Pennsylvania.
But Trump was defiant, speaking to a packed arena in the city of Monroe.
He stirred up the crowd, painting congressional Democrats' impeachment inquiry as a hoax...
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, SAYING:
"The enraged, delusional, destructive, and hyper-partisan impeachment witch hunt // I'll tell you what, it's so bad, these people are bad people, and it's so bad what they do to our country they rip the guts out of our country and it's a shame and they shouldnt be allowed to do it."
As he's done in recent weeks in other states, Trump also tried boost support for Louisiana's own run-off contest for governor.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, SAYING:
"But you're going out to replace a radical liberal Democrat as your governor John Bel Edwards, has not done the job. You're going to have a great, new Republican, tremendously successful man as your Governor, Eddie Rispone."
But Edwards is popular and a conservative Democrat in a Deep South state.
He's an observant Roman Catholic and this year signed a law banning abortion after 15 weeks.
Rispone on the other hand is a little-known businessman and Edwards comfortably beat him in a primary last month.
At Trump's rally Rispone sought to lash his campaign to Trump.
"Louisiana is Trump country - is that right?"
Trump promised to return to the state next week for more campaigning.
Polls for the runoff open next week on November 16th.
