Trump visits New Mexico, proclaiming 'I love the Hispanics'
In New Mexico, an amusing exchange occurs as someone quips, “Look, don't make me waste a whole damn half a day here.”
TroibNews 
Donald Trump energized his supporters during a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Thursday, just five days ahead of the election, in a state where he previously lost by 10 points four years ago.
The choice to campaign in New Mexico, which is not considered one of the seven key battleground states, reflects Trump's efforts this year to appeal to traditionally Democratic voters, despite his challenges with women and college-educated individuals. While it remains improbable that he will win New Mexico—a state he has lost twice—he is undeterred from making appearances there and in Virginia as the race tightens.
It has been two decades since a Republican was successful in either state, with George W. Bush being the last to win both in 2004.
“I’m here for one very simple reason,” Trump told the crowd gathered on the tarmac shortly after his plane landed. “I like you very much, and it's good for my credentials with the Hispanic or Latino community.”
“New Mexico, look, don't make me waste a whole damn half a day here,” he added. “You know, we could be nice to each other, or we can talk turkey. Let's talk turkey.”
Wearing a black and gold cap instead of his usual red Make America Great Again hat, Trump asserted that “Hispanics love Trump” and expressed his admiration for their work ethic, praising them as “entrepreneurial as hell” and noting that they “work their asses off.”
“I love the Hispanics. I love them. I love Hispanics,” he stated, after asking the audience whether they preferred the term “Latino” or “Hispanic”—with the latter being favored. Public polling suggests that Trump has made gains among Hispanic voters this election, while Democrats have seen slightly less support from voters of color.
Sources familiar with the Trump campaign's strategy indicate that internal polling suggests the former president is more competitive than initially expected in both Virginia and New Mexico, even as national polling averages show Harris leading Trump by just over 6 points in Virginia and by 7 points in New Mexico.
While Trump’s allies privately believe he is unlikely to win either state, they view the campaign stops as a means to showcase Trump's ability to garner support from historically Democratic voters.
As Trump incorporates these stops into trips to the battleground states of Nevada and Arizona on Friday, and to North Carolina on Saturday, it was noted that landing in New Mexico and Virginia doesn’t incur significant costs, according to a campaign insider who spoke anonymously.
These visits are expected to provide an “adrenaline blast” to his supporters in those states and generate substantial news coverage right before election day.
“Then we’ll see if it’s enough,” the source commented.
Trump's speech was frequently interrupted by planes flying overhead, prompting him to make light of the disturbances.
He discussed various topics, including illegal immigration and support he had garnered—from more union members this year to endorsements from figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—while painting a grim picture of life under a Kamala Harris presidency.
“New Mexico is going to go back to a level of poverty, and going to wipe out 35 percent of your state’s budget on day one,” he asserted regarding what he believes would happen if Harris is elected.
His events in typically blue states come after recent rallies in Coachella, California, and New York City, which aimed to convey his appeal to traditionally Democratic demographics.
“As President Trump has said, he will be a president for all Americans, including those in traditionally blue states that Kamala Harris and the Democrats have left behind,” mentioned Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, in response to queries about the decision to visit New Mexico and Virginia. “Kamala Harris’ dangerously liberal policies have failed Americans across the country—from the Bronx to Virginia and New Mexico—which is why President Trump is bringing his America First message and vision for hardworking families right to their front door.”
Trump seems keen to replicate the unexpected success of his 2016 campaign, emphasizing similar messaging as he did back then. He has focused more on the issues he attributes to migration rather than economic concerns, which have consistently ranked higher among voter priorities.
In the closing days of his 2016 campaign, he inundated the schedule with stops in Albuquerque and Leesburg, Virginia, as well as in other states like Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, where he did not secure victories.
At the Albuquerque rally, Trump declared, “Colorado’s going to vote big for Trump, too,” asserting that he would “win a record share of the Hispanic American vote” in New Mexico.
“So if I did nothing else,” he concluded, “at least the Hispanics are going to say, ‘We love this guy,’ because I’ve set so many records.”
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The choice to campaign in New Mexico, which is not considered one of the seven key battleground states, reflects Trump's efforts this year to appeal to traditionally Democratic voters, despite his challenges with women and college-educated individuals. While it remains improbable that he will win New Mexico—a state he has lost twice—he is undeterred from making appearances there and in Virginia as the race tightens.
It has been two decades since a Republican was successful in either state, with George W. Bush being the last to win both in 2004.
“I’m here for one very simple reason,” Trump told the crowd gathered on the tarmac shortly after his plane landed. “I like you very much, and it's good for my credentials with the Hispanic or Latino community.”
“New Mexico, look, don't make me waste a whole damn half a day here,” he added. “You know, we could be nice to each other, or we can talk turkey. Let's talk turkey.”
Wearing a black and gold cap instead of his usual red Make America Great Again hat, Trump asserted that “Hispanics love Trump” and expressed his admiration for their work ethic, praising them as “entrepreneurial as hell” and noting that they “work their asses off.”
“I love the Hispanics. I love them. I love Hispanics,” he stated, after asking the audience whether they preferred the term “Latino” or “Hispanic”—with the latter being favored. Public polling suggests that Trump has made gains among Hispanic voters this election, while Democrats have seen slightly less support from voters of color.
Sources familiar with the Trump campaign's strategy indicate that internal polling suggests the former president is more competitive than initially expected in both Virginia and New Mexico, even as national polling averages show Harris leading Trump by just over 6 points in Virginia and by 7 points in New Mexico.
While Trump’s allies privately believe he is unlikely to win either state, they view the campaign stops as a means to showcase Trump's ability to garner support from historically Democratic voters.
As Trump incorporates these stops into trips to the battleground states of Nevada and Arizona on Friday, and to North Carolina on Saturday, it was noted that landing in New Mexico and Virginia doesn’t incur significant costs, according to a campaign insider who spoke anonymously.
These visits are expected to provide an “adrenaline blast” to his supporters in those states and generate substantial news coverage right before election day.
“Then we’ll see if it’s enough,” the source commented.
Trump's speech was frequently interrupted by planes flying overhead, prompting him to make light of the disturbances.
He discussed various topics, including illegal immigration and support he had garnered—from more union members this year to endorsements from figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—while painting a grim picture of life under a Kamala Harris presidency.
“New Mexico is going to go back to a level of poverty, and going to wipe out 35 percent of your state’s budget on day one,” he asserted regarding what he believes would happen if Harris is elected.
His events in typically blue states come after recent rallies in Coachella, California, and New York City, which aimed to convey his appeal to traditionally Democratic demographics.
“As President Trump has said, he will be a president for all Americans, including those in traditionally blue states that Kamala Harris and the Democrats have left behind,” mentioned Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, in response to queries about the decision to visit New Mexico and Virginia. “Kamala Harris’ dangerously liberal policies have failed Americans across the country—from the Bronx to Virginia and New Mexico—which is why President Trump is bringing his America First message and vision for hardworking families right to their front door.”
Trump seems keen to replicate the unexpected success of his 2016 campaign, emphasizing similar messaging as he did back then. He has focused more on the issues he attributes to migration rather than economic concerns, which have consistently ranked higher among voter priorities.
In the closing days of his 2016 campaign, he inundated the schedule with stops in Albuquerque and Leesburg, Virginia, as well as in other states like Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, where he did not secure victories.
At the Albuquerque rally, Trump declared, “Colorado’s going to vote big for Trump, too,” asserting that he would “win a record share of the Hispanic American vote” in New Mexico.
“So if I did nothing else,” he concluded, “at least the Hispanics are going to say, ‘We love this guy,’ because I’ve set so many records.”
Ian Smith for TROIB News
