Staff Reports
In a bold move that defies conventional wisdom, former President Donald Trump is aiming for states long seen as deep blue territory in the final week of his campaign. Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia—states where Trump ate dust in both 2016 and 2020—are now in his crosshairs. Despite trailing in public polls, the confidence emanating from Trump’s camp is palpable, with Trump proclaiming that victory is not just a dream but a near reality.
During a recent rally in Las Vegas, Trump boasted about the surge in his campaign’s momentum, citing leads in states like Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan. With swing states seemingly sewn up, Trump is now casting a line into the waters of traditionally Democratic strongholds. The strategy seems crafted straight out of a playbook for the adventurous; after all, what’s more audacious than attempting to flip states that haven’t gone red since the days of flip phones and low-rise jeans?
Meanwhile, Trump is PACKING out venues in key blue states.
Californians and New Yorkers are tired of blue state policies that have led to an increased cost of living, unsafe border laws, and disregard for family values. pic.twitter.com/7C8RPnlfHe
— AmericanFaith (@americanfaith) October 28, 2024
No one can accuse Trump of shying away from the challenge, as he plans to rally in New Mexico and Virginia this week. Let’s be honest—this isn’t just about chasing elusive blue-state votes. Trump’s return to Madison Square Garden also highlights a fondness for his New York roots, though it might feel like a fish out of water in the city that tends to prefer its politics like it prefers its bagels: heavy on the schmear and absent of any GOP flavor.
Trump’s reasoning for a Colorado comeback attempt is about as clear as mud to some; he’s banking on discontent among voters over issues like immigration-related crime in Aurora and the perceived injustice of earlier attempts to bar him from the ballot—a maneuver that saw a court ruling in his favor. The narrative is straightforward: Colorado residents, even those who usually vote blue, are outraged at the attempts to keep the leading candidate of both parties off their ballots. It’s not exactly a foolproof strategy, but it’s one that speaks to his base with all the urgency of a midnight infomercial.
In the grand landscape of the election, Virginia stands out as the most promising target. With a seasoned governor like Glenn Youngkin backing him, Trump has a competitive chance in the Old Dominion. Early polling shows him inching closer to the Vice President, giving him something substantial to latch onto in a race that could prove pivotal. But even in a state like Virginia, where Trump’s prospects may shine brighter, the murky waters of voter rolls and court battles surrounding alleged non-citizen voters throw a bit of a wrench into the works. If Trump can capitalize on this and rally the troops, it could make all the difference.
While strategists on both sides express skepticism, the early voting results in New Mexico indicate that Republicans are outpacing Democrats. This could mean that Trump’s forays into unlikely states might not be as far-fetched as once thought. Can Trump weave the threads of his ambitious strategy into a successful election fabric? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Trump is not one to play by the conventional rules of engagement. If anything, his latest moves might just turn the political chessboard upside down, one rally at a time.
