Today looked like a more conventional campaign day: both Biden and Trump on the campaign trail for the first time during this election cycle. Biden ventured out to Kenosha, Wisconsin while Trump held a rally at the airport in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The campaign events could not have been more different.
Let’s start with Biden’s Kenosha visit. Following Trump’s visit two days ago, Biden appeared in a highly controlled environment with possibly 50 community members. Biden wore his trademark mask, even when speaking. The event was largely scripted, in fact one of the community members let the cat out of the bag by saying “I’m going to be honest Mr Biden, I was told to go off this paper but I can’t.” Still, Biden struggled to give answers and committed several of his trademark gaffes (“you’re getting too antsy man, sit down man” and then said that if he described his tax plan, “they’ll shoot me”). Biden spoke while sitting down. The attendees were almost exclusively African-American and the mood was somber. Outside the Biden event, there were lots of media, but only a handful of supporters. In fact, few of the passersby even knew that Biden was in town. Biden looked like an aging retiree, hanging on, hoping to still be relevant.
Several hours later as Air Force One arrived in Latrobe, PA, the music Eye of the Tiger and Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA were blasting. Trump spoke before an overflow crowd of thousands, some masked, some not, all dressed in red, white and blue (some with shirts reading “Peaceful Protester”). Trump himself was not wearing a mask and gave one of his trademark rally speeches before adoring supporters. Speaking for well over 90 minutes, Trump was in a good mood and repeatedly celebrated the greatness of America. Speaking about the election, Trump said, “we have polls, we are leading everywhere.” At the end, Trump hung around speaking to local reporters and politicians as the campaign blasted music in what seemed to be a festival atmosphere. Trump projects confidence, bravado, and optimism. He is a showman, a businessman and a President.
If one was totally unaware of the polls and simply watched these two events, there would be little doubt that President Trump was on his way to a landslide election victory. The contrast was that stark. Perhaps the polls are right. Maybe Joe Biden is actually leading by 8% in the popular vote and is on his way to a routine electoral college victory. Then again, maybe the polls are missing something. Today’s events should certainly raise some doubts in the minds of pollsters.
NewEnglandPolitics.com 