The Latest: Trump takes credit for helping NFL with Canada

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump campaigning in Minnesota (all times local):

9 p.m.

President Donald Trump is taking credit for pushing Canada to allow Canadian ads to be shown during Super Bowl broadcasts as part of the negotiations over the revamped trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Trump tells a rally crowd in Minnesota that he'd heard the NFL had a "big, big problem" and stepped in.

He says, "it took me two minutes and now the NFL is so happy."

Trump also says he got a call from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell thanking him for his efforts.

The agreement effectively dismisses a ruling that mandated American ads be shown during Super Bowl broadcasts in Canada. It could boost NFL revenue.

The NFL and Trump have been at odds over players kneeling in protest of police brutality and racial injustice during the national anthem.

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8:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump is calling former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken a "wacky guy" who folded "like a wet rag."

Trump is telling a crowd of thousands at a rally in the state that Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who is running to fill the final two years of Franken's term, "took a wacky guy's place."

He's also mocking her low name recognition, saying, "Nobody knows who the hell she is."

Franked vacated his seat in January in response to a string of sexual misconduct allegations and amid tremendous pressure from Democrats.

Trump is marveling how quickly he resigned, saying "boy, did he fold up like a wet rag."

Smith's challenger, state Sen. Karin Housley, jokingly chastised Trump for mentioning her opponent's name so often. "You really do go off script, don't you?" she said.

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8 p.m.

President Donald Trump says anger over resistance to his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation will drive Republican turnout this fall.

Trump tells a rally crowd of thousands Thursday evening in Rochester, Minnesota, that Democrats' "rage-fueled resistance is starting to backfire at a level nobody has ever seen before."

"We love it," Trump tells the crowd.

Trump is also talking up Kavanaugh's credentials as a handful of undecided senators in Washington mull his nominee's fate following sexual misconduct allegations.

Trump says Kavanaugh is an "incredible" intellect, judge and talent and will defend the constitution as written.

He's also criticizing Democrats, saying they "have been trying to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh since the very first second he was announced."

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6:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump is trying to boost Republican congressional candidates in Minnesota, as the GOP hopes to fend off a Democratic effort to recapture the House of Representatives.

Trump landed in Minneapolis in the afternoon and headed to a fundraiser. He was set to appear later at an evening rally in Rochester, friendly territory in the traditionally liberal state, where Republicans are targeting two Democratic districts but playing defense in two GOP-held districts in the Minneapolis suburbs.

Outside Washington, the focus still remained on the dramatic nomination process for Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Trump told reporters he thinks Brett Kavanaugh is "doing very well" as senators weigh a new FBI background report prompted by allegations of sexual misconduct.