在最近两次前往德克萨斯州的采访之旅中，我与支持总统唐纳德·特朗普的人交谈，他们表示，虽然对不断上涨的成本感到沮丧，但仍相信他能扭转经济。然而，距离中期选举不到三周，特朗普却鲜少谈论通货膨胀或他打算如何降低价格。在最近的竞选集会上，他转而攻击政治对手，怀念他的第一任期，并就个人不满进行了长篇大论的偏离。
On two recent reporting trips to Texas, I spoke to supporters of President Donald Trump who said they were frustrated by rising costs but still confident that he can turn the economy around. Yet, less than three weeks before the midterms, Trump is saying little about inflation or how he plans to lower prices. At recent rallies, he has instead attacked political opponents, waxed nostalgic about his first term and taken extended detours into personal grievances.
据我粗略统计，自10月1日以来，特朗普在11个州的13场活动中发表了超过16小时的讲话。但这些活动产生的许多头条新闻与生活成本关系不大。
Trump has spent more than 16 hours speaking at 13 appearances across 11 states since October 1, by my rough count. But many of the headlines generated by those appearances have had little to do with the cost of living.
这13场活动旨在提高11月3日中期选举前的共和党投票率。特朗普谈论经济，但很少长时间或详细地谈论。他宣扬制造业投资，回忆伊朗战争前汽油更便宜的日子，声称乔·拜登总统任期内汽油价格更高，并承诺战争结束后价格将下降。在蒙大拿州，他驳斥了关税助长通胀的担忧，坚称该国“通胀非常低”，尽管最新政府数据显示，通胀率从8月的3.4%上升至9月的3.7%。他还承诺，如果共和党获胜，将向所有美国成年人发放5000美元。但这些零星的言论并未构成一个清晰的可负担性信息。
All 13 appearances aimed to boost Republican turnout ahead of the November 3 midterms. Trump talks about the economy, but rarely for long or in much detail. He touts manufacturing investments, recalls cheaper gas before the Iran war, asserts gas prices were higher under President Joe Biden and promises they will fall once the war ends. In Montana, he dismissed concerns that tariffs fuel inflation, insisting the country has "very little inflation," although the latest government data showed it rising to 3.7% in September from 3.4% in August. He has also pledged $5,000 payouts to all American adults if Republicans win. But the scattered remarks don't add up to a clear affordability message.
民主党人也因不断上涨的成本攻击特朗普，但他们同样难以向选民传达清晰的经济信息。
Democrats have attacked Trump over rising costs, but they, too, have struggled to offer voters a clear economic message.
在最近的五场集会上，特朗普反复讲述一个故事：他在1月访问爱荷华州时，看到汽油售价为每加仑1.85美元或1.95美元。但燃油价格追踪器GasBuddy发现，在当天监测的2000多个加油站中，没有如此便宜的普通汽油。根据汽车协会AAA的数据，全州平均价格为2.57美元。这个轶事说明，特朗普的经济信息往往依赖于回忆，而不是提供新的解决方案。即使他在谈论经济时，信息也常常在他的离题发挥中被掩盖。
At five recent rallies, Trump repeated a story about spotting gasoline at $1.85 or $1.95 a gallon during a January visit to Iowa. But fuel-price tracker GasBuddy found no regular gasoline that cheap among more than 2,000 stations it monitored that day. The statewide average was $2.57, according to auto association AAA. The anecdote illustrates how Trump's economic message can lean on memories rather than offer new solutions. Even when he addresses the economy, the message often gets lost in his own digressions.
在俄亥俄州的扬斯敦，特朗普从宣布一个潜艇部件制造设施，转而赞美美国参议员、俄亥俄州共和党人乔恩·赫斯特的下巴线条。在纽约州的雪城，他抱怨自己未获得诺贝尔和平奖。在田纳西州，他建议以自己的名字命名一片海洋。他在德克萨斯州与参议员候选人肯·帕克斯顿的集会因抗议者而成为新闻焦点；而在阿拉斯加，他则在舞台上签署了总统特赦令。
In Youngstown, Ohio, Trump went from announcing a submarine-component facility to admiring the jawline of US Senator Jon Husted, an Ohio Republican. In Syracuse, New York, he complained about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In Tennessee, he suggested renaming an ocean after himself. His Texas rally with Senate candidate Ken Paxton made news for protesters, while in Alaska, he signed presidential pardons onstage.
也有例外。在巴尔的摩附近的造船厂，特朗普宣布了一项37亿美元的私人投资用于潜艇制造，而他在德克萨斯州的一家工厂访问则突出了就业和关税问题。这两件事都引发了经济方面的报道。但与他那场场铺开的集会不同，这些访问是围绕具体宣布展开的。
There are exceptions. At a Baltimore-area shipyard, Trump announced a $3.7 billion private investment in submarine manufacturing, while a Texas factory visit highlighted jobs and tariffs. Both generated economic coverage. But unlike his sprawling rallies, those visits were built around specific announcements.
对共和党人的政治形势正在变得更加艰难——最近的民调加剧了人们对他们能否守住国会的担忧。
The political backdrop is getting tougher for Republicans – recent polling has added to concerns about their ability to hold on to Congress.
随着共和党人越来越依赖特朗普来动员选民，他的出场变得愈发重要。但这也意味着，在竞选最后几周，往往是总统而非候选人自己决定了人们讨论什么。
With Republicans increasingly relying on Trump to rally their voters, his appearances have taken on greater importance. But they also mean the president, rather than the candidates themselves, often determines what gets talked about in the final weeks of the campaign.
他反复告诉支持者假装他就在选票上，希望动员那些否则可能会跳过中期选举的选民。在势均力敌的选举中，这可能会起到作用。
He repeatedly tells supporters to pretend he is on the ballot, hoping to mobilize voters who might otherwise skip the midterms. In close races, that could matter.
但激发基本盘只是任务的一部分。共和党人还需要吸引那些对经济不满、且不倾向于任何一方的选民。他们可能永远不会参加特朗普的集会，但他们会看到头条新闻。
But firing up the base is only part of the task. Republicans also need to attract voters unhappy with the economy who aren't committed to either party. They may never attend a Trump rally, but they'll see the headlines.
特稿：特朗普对公职人员的赦免中，共和党人获得大部分宽恕 马斯克花费2.76亿美元助力中期选举，帮助共和党保持国会控制权 驱动民主党深入特朗普腹地的中期选举策略 俄亥俄州工人阶级选民重新思考对特朗普和共和党的支持 美国中期选举投注市场火爆内幕 民主党中期选举获胜可能给华尔街和加密货币公司带来审查 关键美国参议院选举中略过一半的候选人表示将接受选举结果，其他人持保留态度 特朗普在中期选举前降低能源价格的努力与一位密切的欧洲盟友产生摩擦。
Special Report: In Trump’s pardons for public officials, Republicans win most of the mercy Musk has spent $276 million on midterms to help Republicans retain control of Congress The midterm strategy driving Democrats deep into Trump country Ohio's working-class voters rethink support for Trump and the Republican Party Inside the booming market for US midterm election bets Democratic midterm wins could bring scrutiny for Wall Street, crypto firms Just over half of candidates in key US Senate races say they will accept results, others hedge Trump's effort to lower energy prices ahead of the midterms is creating friction with a close European ally.
意大利总理乔治亚·梅洛尼周三称美俄柴油交易是“非常冒险的选择”，警告称这可能破坏向俄罗斯施压、迫使其结束乌克兰战争的努力。特朗普为该安排辩护，称其将降低能源成本，但欧洲领导人担心这可能为俄罗斯提供收入，同时削弱制裁。
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called a US-Russia diesel deal a "very risky choice" on Wednesday, warning it could undermine efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its war in Ukraine. Trump has defended the arrangement, saying it would lower energy costs, but European leaders worry it could provide Russia with revenue while weakening sanctions.
10月15日：北卡罗来纳州开始提前投票 10月16日：特朗普在佐治亚州道尔顿举行集会 10月17日：特朗普在肯塔基州海兰德高地举行集会 10月19日：德克萨斯州和阿肯色州开始提前投票
October 15: Early voting starts in North Carolina October 16: Trump holds a rally in Dalton, Georgia October 17: Trump rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky October 19: Early voting starts in Texas and Arkansas