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Former President Donald Trump has made a strategic decision to forgo the upcoming Republican primary debate and instead hold a rally in South Florida as a tactical move. This decision comes as no surprise, as Trump has consistently voiced his belief that his substantial lead in the polls renders a primary campaign unnecessary.
On the evening of November 8th, Trump will rally his supporters at a stadium in Hialeah, just a short distance from where his opponents are scheduled to hold their own gathering at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
It is worth noting that Hialeah is a predominantly Hispanic suburb, with over 95% of its population of Hispanic or Latino descent. The Republican Party’s desire to capture a larger share of the Hispanic vote in the upcoming 2024 elections is highlighted by their choice of location.
In a notable feat, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was once seen as Trump’s formidable rival, managed to secure victory in Miami-Dade County during the 2022 midterm elections, becoming the first Republican governor to do so in two decades.
This triumph undoubtedly elevated DeSantis’s standing within the Republican Party, prompting Trump to view him as a significant threat. By holding a rally in Hialeah, Trump aims to demonstrate his enduring popularity and solidify his position against DeSantis.
It is essential to highlight that candidates must meet specific criteria, such as garnering at least 4% support in multiple polls and securing 70,000 unique donors, to participate in the November debate hosted by NBC.
The Trump campaign has continued its remarkable financial success, consistently surpassing expectations and raising vast sums of money. During the third quarter, the campaign generated an impressive $45.5 million in donations, exceeding even their exceptional performance in the previous quarter.
As a result, they currently possess an impressive $37.5 million in available funds. In contrast, Governor Ron DeSantis, who is Trump’s closest competitor in most polls, only has $5 million on hand for his campaign.
DeSantis’s team managed to accumulate $15 million in the third quarter. A significant donor, Robert Bigelow, who had previously contributed $20 million to a DeSantis-affiliated PAC, expressed his intention to halt further contributions unless DeSantis moderates his policy positions.
The Trump campaign, in a statement, proclaimed their overwhelming grassroots support and how it would translate into resounding victories. They emphasized that almost $36 million of their funds are dedicated explicitly to the primary phase of the campaign.
The statement also highlighted the remarkable fundraising achievement of Trump, who surpassed his impressive $35 million haul from the second quarter, doubling his first-quarter fundraising by more than $10 million.
These third-quarter numbers are particularly momentous given the general perception of fundraising lag during the summer months; Trump’s success has defied this trend. With Trump firmly re-establishing himself as a political force, recent surveys indicate that he is either tied with or surpassing President Biden in some of the most crucial swing states.
In a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll conducted in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Trump holds a 4-point lead over Biden. This shift in the political landscape is largely attributed to widespread dissatisfaction with the vice president’s handling of the economy.
Trump’s lead in these states includes a 5-point advantage in Georgia, a 4-point lead in Arizona and North Carolina, a 2-point lead in Wisconsin, and a narrow 1-point lead in Pennsylvania. Nevada remains the one state where Biden maintains a 3-point edge. In Michigan, the race between the two candidates appears to be a dead heat.
Notably, 49% of voters in these seven swing states expressed their concern over the negative effects of ‘Bidenomics,’ the term used by the White House to describe President Biden’s economic agenda.
Furthermore, among undecided voters, 46% believe that Bidenomics would adversely impact the economy, while 41% either lack sufficient knowledge or hold no opinion on the matter. The survey revealed that 14% of those who voted for President Biden in 2020 now express uncertainty or intend not to vote in the upcoming election, representing a noteworthy shift in sentiment.
On the other hand, only 9% of Trump voters in 2020 expressed their intention to vote for Joe Biden in 2024, with an overwhelming 91% affirming their continued support for Trump.