Thune Goes All-In on Campaign Trail as Schumer Stays on Bench, Faces Rejection from Fellow Dems

Senate Republican Leader John Thune is barnstorming battleground states to shore up GOP Senate candidates, while Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer remains largely off the trail amid growing frustration from fellow Democrats over his leadership and strategy.

**Lead**

A stark contrast is playing out on the campaign trail with less than two weeks until Election Day. Senate Republican Leader John Thune of South Dakota is crisscrossing key battleground states, making frequent stops in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nevada to rally support for GOP Senate candidates. Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has kept a conspicuously low profile, remaining mostly in Washington or his home state and facing increasing criticism from within his own party for failing to energize the Democratic base and for a electoral strategy that some senior Democrats say has fallen short.

**Contexto**

Thune, who is widely expected to succeed Mitch McConnell as the top Senate Republican after the election, has been described by campaign aides as