Former President Donald Trump made campaign stops in Colorado and California over the weekend, states he is likely to lose in the 2024 election. While delivering speeches in these states, he painted bleak pictures of them, referring to Aurora, Colorado as a “war zone” and California as a “paradise lost.” Trump’s comments have been criticized by local officials who have refuted his claims of gang activity and decay in their cities.
Political analysts believe that Trump’s campaign stops in these traditionally blue states are meant to send a message to his base rather than to win over voters in swing states. Northeastern University professor Costas Panagopoulos suggests that Trump is trying to demonstrate his willingness to engage in battle in unfriendly territory to highlight issues important to his campaign.
Despite Trump’s criticisms, polls show that Vice President Kamala Harris leads him by significant margins in both Colorado and California. In Detroit, another city Trump disparaged, Michigan remains a critical swing state. Overall, Trump’s comments about these cities and states may be more about rallying his base than about winning key swing states in the upcoming election.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com