Former President Donald Trump made a campaign stop in Richmond ahead of Virginia’s presidential primary, where he took the opportunity to direct his focus towards the upcoming November election and President Joe Biden.
After delivering a speech in North Carolina earlier in the day, the rally in Virginia was Trump’s second stop. With determination, the former president expressed his intention to make a significant impact in Virginia during the upcoming November elections.
With the Super Tuesday matchup just days away, Trump seemed to have already shifted his focus beyond the primaries. Surprisingly, he made no mention of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley by name.
Trump, instead of directing his criticism towards Biden and Democrats, chose to focus on leaders of the country’s largest cities.
During his presidency, the former leader prioritized addressing the crisis at the southern border and tackling the issue of increasing crime. He highlighted the alarming rise in crime rates in the District of Columbia and made a firm commitment to take charge of the nation’s capital and restore law and order.
In the wake of the alleged murder of a two-year-old boy by a migrant with a history of jail time, former President Trump took aim at Maryland’s Montgomery County and its sanctuary laws. He squarely placed the blame on President Biden and the Democrats for their stance on immigration.
In contrast to the neighboring states, Trump expressed admiration for Virginia’s significant role in American history, acknowledging that it was home to numerous influential leaders, including the nation’s first president. He energized the crowd by quoting the renowned Patrick Henry, who famously said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”
Virginia’s Republican leaders, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears, were not present at the rally. Governor Youngkin has not yet endorsed a candidate for president. However, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore attended the rally and has encouraged fellow Republicans to rally behind the former president’s campaign.
Gilmore is urging Haley to withdraw from the race, along with a coalition of conservative leaders from across the country.
According to the latest Roanoke College Poll released on Friday, Trump is currently leading Haley with a margin of 51% to 43%.
According to the poll, even though the former South Carolina governor is currently behind, Haley performs better than Trump in a hypothetical matchup against President Joe Biden. The survey indicates that in the commonwealth, Haley would defeat Biden with a 49% to 40% lead, while Trump would lose to Biden with a 47% to 43% margin.
Virginia has proven to be a challenging battleground for Trump’s ambitions, as history shows. It’s been over a decade since a Republican presidential candidate was able to secure a victory in the state, with President George W. Bush being the last to do so in 2004. Over the past two decades, Virginia has witnessed a notable shift of 9% in favor of Democrats, further complicating the task for Trump.
