In a rare political occurrence, a Republican midterm convention has been organized in Dallas. This event stands out because national party conventions typically happen only during presidential election years. President Trump insisted on this convention, bringing together key members of his cabinet and top party candidates to celebrate his administration’s achievements ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The convention is a unique first in nearly five decades. It comes at a time when President Trump’s popularity is in question. His leadership on domestic, foreign, and economic fronts has faced criticism from many Americans, as reflected in polls. There’s an urgency for Trump to use this platform to demonstrate that his policies are steering the country positively before November.

Despite some discontent among Republicans, party members have mostly endorsed Trump’s grand convention. Major criticism aimed at Trump’s administration is unlikely during the event. Some crucial questions arise as the midterm convention unfolds over the next two days:

Is Trump’s midterm rally beneficial for Republicans?

According to the New York Times polling average, Trump’s approval rating is at a low 38 percent. In earlier times, candidates in competitive races would hesitate to align closely with a president experiencing poor approval ratings. However, Trump has significantly influenced the Republican Party, and candidates risk political consequences by distancing themselves.

Trump controls substantial financial resources, having pledged support from his super PAC’s millions of dollars. He hasn’t shown willingness to let fellow Republicans diverge from his agenda. Only a handful of speakers chosen by the Republican National Committee for the convention are in competitive races, including Senate hopefuls such as Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, former Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan, and Michael Whatley, who previously chaired the RNC and is running in North Carolina.