Ray Bogan: Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump took the stage in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania recently and was greeted by a roaring crowd. As is typical with his rallies, every seat was packed with people holding signs and wearing Trump gear.
But Trump didn’t retain the crowd he started with. By the end of his one hour, 45 minute speech, many had already left. Photos appeared to show entire sections of the 8,000 seat arena nearly empty, something unheard of for a MAGA event in 2020 and 2016.
Reporting from the Guardian reveals why attendees moved for the exits. Jenny, a local business owner told the outlet – “He reminded me why I’m not going to vote for him this time.”
“I voted for him in 2016 and had a Trump flag in the front yard. I voted for him again in 2020 but didn’t put the flag out that time.”
“But after listening to that, I’m actually afraid of Trump being president again. I don’t know what he was talking about half the time. Perhaps he was always like that but he seems worse, more unstable.”
MAGA rallies are quintessential Trump. His ability to work a crowd helped him turn Luzerne County red in 2016 and 2020 after voting for Obama twice.
Supporter Frank Scavo attended the rally and sounded just like one of Trump’s advisers – “Trump’s got to focus on the message and not get distracted by personal attacks,” he said.
“These rallies fire up the base to go out there and knock on doors.”
“But if we don’t get people out there knocking on doors, Trump’s not going to win Luzerne county.”
Trump doesn’t want to appear to listen –
Trump: “We’re gonna do a free poll. Here are the two questions – should I get personal, should i not get personal? Should I get personal Should I not get personal? I don’t know my advisers are fired.”
While strategy can be debated, this can’t – Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 and won the election, he lost Pennsylvania in 2020 and lost the election. Pennsylvania will be equally important in 2024 and he’s currently losing.
The 538 average has Vice President Harris up by 1.5 points, more than the 1.2 points Trump lost by in 2020, so every tenth of a point matters.
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