US midterms: a referendum on Donald Trump

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Council Bluffs,Iowa

Donald Trump was back to his old tricks. Speaking before thousands of fans in western Iowa last week, the president conjured up a nickname for his latest target — a Democrat named Cindy Axne who is hoping to become the first woman to represent Iowa in the House of Representatives.
“Cindy Tax Me. It’s a very good name . . . I guess it’s actually Axne, but we call her Tax Me,” Mr Trump roared, sending ripples of laughter across the packed arena in the city of Council Bluffs. “That was so easy!”