Republican presidential contenders have faced defeat in New York for many years, while Democrats have strengthened their dominance in the state by securing supermajorities in the Assembly and other key elected positions. Nevertheless, this has not discouraged one of New York’s well-known former inhabitants.
Donald Trump announced on Thursday his intention to campaign in New York, with rallies scheduled at Madison Square Garden and in the Bronx, an area partly overseen by far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) in Congress.
“The last time the Bronx was the center of a Republican presidential campaign was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won by a landslide,” Breitbart News reported. While visiting a construction site in lower Manhattan before going to court on Thursday, Trump received a warm welcome from workers and residents of New York City. He mentioned to a Fox News reporter that he planned to make a move for the state.
“I think we have a good chance of winning here and we’re going to give it a big plan,” he said. “We’re going to the South Bronx to do a rally. We’re going to be doing a rally at Madison Square Garden, we believe.”
Breitbart reported that the rallies will primarily emphasize the recognition of police officers, firefighters, and teachers. Trump expressed his intention to honor the individuals who contribute to the functioning of New York. He also expressed optimism about the upcoming events, stating that they hold a strong possibility of success. In his address, Trump voiced his opposition to President Joe Biden’s costly economic policies, voiced criticism towards open borders, and denounced the anti-Israel demonstrations occurring in several prestigious American universities.
“[Police] would like to be at the colleges” to secure those campuses “because what’s happening at the colleges is a disgrace,” Trump said, as he drew a contrast between the NYPD being stationed at the Manhattan courthouse instead of the college campuses. “This courthouse is locked down and there’s not a person within five blocks. They have more police here.”
“This is the worst-run country right now,” the former president added. “All you have to do is look at the millions of people coming in from prisons, from mental institutions — coming in at levels we’ve never seen before.”
“So I’m gonna go in now and sit in front of a case — election interference,” Trump said. “But I guess based on what I’m looking at, it’s driving up my poll numbers.”
According to a Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll released on Wednesday, Trump has disrupted Biden’s recent progress in national polling by outperforming him in swing states. The poll reveals that Trump is leading in six out of the seven swing states for the 2024 election, highlighting his ongoing supremacy over Biden.
Even individuals who typically criticize Trump, like Karl Rove, an adviser to George W. Bush, have acknowledged his accomplishments. Rove praised Trump’s consistent messaging tactics this week on Fox News, stating, “He’s done this several times before, whoever’s advising him on this ought to be given a gold star because it’s good advice.”
“It is better for him to grab moments like this, walking in and commenting on the news of the day,” Rove said, “rather than making it all about what he feels [about the criminal trial]. And he feels obviously strongly about this — about … his treatment in this case; we’ve heard that once or twice already,” he added. “We don’t need to hear it again.”
