TV Asahi reports that the US midterm elections are presenting a difficult environment for President Trump, with persistently high mortgage rates weighing on the political landscape. The Japanese broadcaster also notes that corruption has surfaced as a campaign issue in the run-up to the vote.
According to TV Asahi, the combination of elevated home loan costs and integrity questions has created headwinds for the president heading into the elections.
Other Japanese outlets are tracking related developments. Yahoo! News reports that Democrats are gaining momentum in so-called "red states," traditionally Republican-leaning areas. Sankei News reports that gubernatorial races are being held in 36 states and that Democrats appear to have the advantage, with the possibility of the first Black woman elected governor.
The Mainichi Shimbun reports that a Republican candidate in a competitive state has sought distance from Trump, quoting the candidate as saying the president will not come to the area.
Nomura Securities' Naokazu Koshimizu has also published an analysis of the latest state of play in the US midterms and the key points to watch on election day, according to the firm's commentary.
What to watch next: whether the mortgage-rate pressure and corruption theme continue to dominate the closing stretch of the campaign, and how Democratic momentum in Republican-leaning states translates into results.
