Former President Trump is making two campaign stops in traditionally blue states, New Mexico and Virginia, in the final week leading up to the 2024 Election Day. Despite both states leaning blue for the past two decades, Trump and his team see opportunities to gain support by bringing his America First message and vision to hardworking families in these states. The Republican National Committee spokesperson argues that Vice President Kamala Harris’ liberal policies have failed Americans across the country, creating an opening for Trump to appeal to voters in these states.
In New Mexico, where Trump has not visited in five years, recent surveys show Harris with a lead over Trump, although one suggests a closer contest for the state’s electoral votes. The Democratic Party of New Mexico spokesperson claims that New Mexicans are set to reject Trump’s extremism and divisive rhetoric once again, indicating that the former president may face a tough battle to win over voters in this state. Despite the polling numbers, Trump is making a campaign stop in New Mexico to try to sway voters with his message.
In Virginia, polling indicates that Harris is leading Trump by a double-digit margin, although some surveys show a slight edge for the former president. Trump held a rally in the southeastern corner of the state in June and is scheduled to hold another rally in the conservative southwestern corner on Saturday. The former president and Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin believe there is a good chance for Trump to win Virginia, as the state has not been won by a GOP presidential candidate in decades.
One possible reason for Trump’s visit to Virginia may be to capitalize on a recent federal judge’s ruling that Virginia must restore more than 1,500 people to the state’s voter rolls. Trump falsely claimed that Harris was behind the decision and accused it of being election interference. The state has filed an emergency stay application to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the ruling, which halted efforts to remove suspected noncitizens from the voter rolls. Political scientists suggest that this may be a strategic move by Trump to highlight his concerns about illegal immigrants trying to vote in the election and appeal to a national audience.
Despite the challenges that Trump may face in both New Mexico and Virginia, he is making a concerted effort to campaign in these traditionally blue states to appeal to voters who feel left behind by the Democratic Party. With the clock ticking down to Election Day, Trump is determined to bring his message directly to the front doors of voters in these crucial battleground states. While polling numbers may not be in his favor, the former president is not shying away from the opportunity to try and flip these states and secure victory in the 2024 election.
