Democratic Candidate Says He’s Thrilled Unpopular Trump Is Campaigning for Opponent: ‘I’m Glad He’s Here’

Adam Hamilton, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Kansas, said he is “glad” that President Donald Trump is campaigning for his Republican opponent, Sen. Roger Marshall.

Hamilton, a pastor, is in a stunningly close race against Marshall, as Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932.

Trump held a rally with Marshall in Wichita on Monday night, where the president was brutally heckled by people he baselessly claimed were “paid protesters.”

A few hours before the rally, Hamilton appeared on The Lead on CNN, where Jake Tapper noted Trump’s putrid approval rating. The host also pointed out that Democrats lead Republicans on the congressional generic ballot by nearly 10 points.

“But when Trump is brought in, i.e., choosing between a Democratic-controlled Congress that could act as a check on Trump or a GOP-controlled Congress that could pass Trump’s agenda, well, registered voters prefer Democrats by 19 points, 58% to 39%,” Tapper said before welcoming Hamilton to the program.

“Reverend, President Trump coming to Kansas,” Tapper said. “What do you think is the significance of that?”

“Well, I took it as a big compliment,” Hamilton replied. “I took it as a statement that the Republican Party felt they needed to send the most powerful man in the country to try to save Roger Marshall. And I think it’s only gonna hurt him. So I’m glad he’s here.”

“You’re hoping to become just the fourth Democratic senator representing Kansas in the history of Kansas,” Tapper said. “You’ve said you’re not gonna answer to any one party or any person in Washington. You’re gonna answer to the people of Kansas. What are you telling Kansas Republicans who might want to vote for you, or they’re at least thinking about it, but they don’t want to give Democrats a majority in the Senate that will ultimately result in a more progressive, if not left-wing, agenda.”

“Well, I’m telling them, ‘If the Democrats do take over the Senate, wouldn’t it be better to have a moderate Democrat in there from Kansas fighting for Kansans?'” Hamilton replied, before dinging Marshall and the state’s other Republican senator, Jerry Moran.

Watch above via CNN.

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