In final midterm push, Biden warns of threats, Trump hints at another run - Reuters

YONKERS, N.Y., Nov 6 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden warned that a Republican triumph successful Tuesday's midterm elections could weaken U.S. democracy, portion erstwhile President Donald Trump hinted astatine different White House bid, 2 days earlier votes successful which Republicans could summation power of some chambers of Congress.

The comments, made astatine dueling rallies held successful New York and Florida, highlighted the grim prospects that Biden's Democrats face, contempt fulfilling his promises to boost clean-energy incentives and rebuild crumbling roads and bridges.

Republicans person hammered Biden for precocious ostentation and accrued transgression successful the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and non-partisan forecasters favour them to triumph power of the House of Representatives - and perchance the Senate arsenic well. Democrats' aboriginal leads successful Senate races successful Georgia, Pennsylvania and Nevada person evaporated.

Control of adjacent 1 enclosure would let Republicans to stymie Democrat Biden's legislative docket and motorboat perchance damaging investigations.

Biden warned that galore Republican candidates are threatening antiauthoritarian norms by echoing Trump's mendacious claims astir a stolen predetermination successful 2020.

"Democracy is virtually connected the ballot," helium told students astatine Sarah Lawrence College, northbound of New York City. "You can't lone emotion the state erstwhile you win."

At a Trump rally successful Miami, meanwhile, the erstwhile president recycled galore of his unfounded complaints astir the 2020 predetermination and hinted that helium whitethorn soon denote different statesmanlike bid.

"I volition astir apt person to bash it again, but enactment tuned," helium said, castigating the Biden medication for everything from convulsive transgression to soiled airports.

Trump's advisers say an announcement astir the 2024 statesmanlike predetermination could travel sometime this month.

Despite Biden's warnings astir democracy, galore of his chap Democrats person emphasized much applicable matters, specified arsenic their enactment to little medicine cause prices and support Social Security. While galore person campaigned connected termination rights, sentiment polls amusement that has faded arsenic a apical elector concern.

Republicans person questioned Democrats' enactment for instrumentality enforcement and harnessed concerns astir crime, which has emerged arsenic a large predetermination contented aft execution rates increased during the COVID pandemic.

"In 2 abbreviated years, bash you not consciousness the pain?" Republican Senate campaigner Herschel Walker said astatine a rally successful Georgia. "This is connected their watch."

Democrats person been saddled by Biden's unpopularity, which has forced him to clasp backmost from campaigning successful competitory states. Only 40% of Americans o.k. of his occupation performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed connected Tuesday.

Biden spoke successful usually harmless Democratic territory extracurricular New York City, wherever Republicans are threatening to marque gains.

New York's Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is facing an unexpectedly stiff situation from Republican Lee Zeldin, portion Democratic House incumbents are locked successful choky battles passim the state.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Chicago, different Democratic stronghold, wherever she said Democrats could walk nationalist abortion-rights authorities if they added to their margins successful the Senate. "If we prime up 2 much senators, the president tin motion it into law," she said.

First Lady Jill Biden visited Texas, a Republican-dominated authorities that has a fistful of competitory races. "Choosing who leads our assemblage is 1 mode we tin unrecorded retired our faith," she told worshippers astatine Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church successful Houston.

Additional reporting by Nathan Layne successful Georgia, Tyler Clifford successful New York and Gram Slattery successful Washington; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Deepa Babington and Kenneth Maxwell

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