") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.UeJNJ::before{display:none}}.gSkBXd{aspect-ratio:16/9}.rAFIl{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.rAFIl{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.rAFIl{max-width:622px}}.dLkuvY{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.jrwZqm{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.dHXFkr{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.dHXFkr:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.dHXFkr:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.lcJUSj{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.hJPJVF{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.hJPJVF::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0),rgba(0,0,0,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.5),rgba(0,0,0,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fff,#000)}}@media(min-width:768px){.PdmgT{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.eMEmGu{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.lfyduH .taboola{display:none}}.lfyduH:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.lfyduH:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.lfyduH:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.lfyduH:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.iUtUOL .tp-container-inner,.iUtUOL .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95);box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.95),rgba(0,0,0,0.95))}.iUtUOL.closed{display:none}.cAWJSb{width:32px}.cAWJSb,.cAWJSb:focus{color:#627aac;color:light-dark(#627aac,#627aac)}.cAWJSb:hover,.cAWJSb:active,.cAWJSb:focus-visible{color:#9cabcb;color:light-dark(#9cabcb,#9cabcb)}@media(min-width:768px){.cAWJSb.mobile-only{display:none}}.kvSIBL{width:32px}.kvSIBL,.kvSIBL:focus{color:#4e4e4e;color:light-dark(#4e4e4e,#4e4e4e)}.kvSIBL:hover,.kvSIBL:active,.kvSIBL:focus-visible{color:#919191;color:light-dark(#919191,#919191)}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSIBL.mobile-only{display:none}}.fAfNYP{width:32px}.fAfNYP,.fAfNYP:focus{color:#25d366;color:light-dark(#25d366,#25d366)}.fAfNYP:hover,.fAfNYP:active,.fAfNYP:focus-visible{color:#66e093;color:light-dark(#66e093,#66e093)}@media(min-width:768px){.fAfNYP.mobile-only{display:none}}.jOXOdf{width:32px}.jOXOdf,.jOXOdf:focus{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.jOXOdf:hover,.jOXOdf:active,.jOXOdf:focus-visible{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}@media(min-width:768px){.jOXOdf.mobile-only{display:none}}.dzqQwN{display:flex;gap:12px}.dFzDMM .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.dFzDMM:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.dFzDMM:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.iJqvPe{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7;color:light-dark(#70a5a7,#70a5a7)}.sQzGY{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.cNueyK{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cNueyK{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.dUmHef{display:flex}.sticky .dUmHef{flex-direction:column}.igSthU{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.igSthU{height:25px}}.fvIzys{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fvIzys::after{content:':'}.knjHva{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff);font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.knjHva::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .gryCYY{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .gryCYY{margin-top:-407px}}.gryCYY>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .gryCYY>p{line-height:27px}.gryCYY>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .gryCYY>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.article-sgi .gryCYY>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.gryCYY>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.gryCYY span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.FtcnY{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.FtcnY{min-height:450px}}.teads .FtcnY{display:block}.FtcnY [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.cCcguK{display:none}}.cCcguK[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.cCcguK.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.dFpFuY{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.dFpFuY{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.dFpFuY{max-width:622px}}.dmMyEN{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;border-top:8px solid light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e);background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}@media(min-width:768px){.dmMyEN{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.fXvmgM{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.fXvmgM{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.ivTlwT{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.ivTlwT{display:none}}.hfMbpT{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a);color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}@media(min-width:768px){.hfMbpT{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.dAuNha{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jiDyot{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jiDyot:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jiDyot:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.laZbyn{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.juUDRT{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.juUDRT{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.kRWakq{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.kRWakq{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.eJjJXF{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.eJjJXF{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.dLfZIO{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.dLfZIO{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.cqPbFA{order:-1}}.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0),rgba(102,0,10,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0.5),rgba(102,0,10,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}}.cKWiEj{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.huxBsk{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jaiOuh{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.jaiOuh{min-height:450px}}.jasvOK{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK{min-height:450px}}.jasvOK.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK.mobile-only{display:none}}.jasvOK.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.jasvOK.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jasvOK .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.bYBoJE{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.bYBoJE .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.bYBoJE.sponsored-article img,.bYBoJE.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.bYBoJE.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.bYBoJE .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.bYBoJE .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.bYBoJE .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.bYBoJE .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.bYBoJE .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bYBoJE{max-width:624px;margin:0}.bYBoJE.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.bYBoJE{padding-right:0}.bYBoJE .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.bYBoJE .big-letter{--color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}}.liYrJc{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.liYrJc{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.liYrJc{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.dMNxBE{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .dMNxBE{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .dMNxBE{height:20px}}.dMNxBE::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.dMNxBE:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.dMNxBE{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.dMNxBE::before{margin-top:2px}}.dMNxBE time{display:block}.dMNxBE time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.efpEY{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;color:light-dark(#ef4757,#ef4757);font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.efpEY:hover,.efpEY:active{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}@media(min-width:768px){.efpEY{margin-bottom:0}}.fefQOD{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.fefQOD::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.fefQOD:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.fefQOD{margin-bottom:0}}.bMRmfY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bMRmfY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bMRmfY{width:30%}}.dfBarH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dfBarH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.dfBarH .sc-mzrbq8-0{order:1}.dfBarH .sc-mzrbq8-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dfBarH{flex-direction:row}}.gkrVhQ{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.gkrVhQ{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .gkrVhQ{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.gkrVhQ{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .gkrVhQ{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.gkrVhQ a{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.gkrVhQ a:hover{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}.gkrVhQ a:hover::after{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.gkrVhQ a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.gkrVhQ a:last-child::after{display:none}.gbPKFW{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bulCXp{margin:0;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bulCXp{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bulCXp{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bulCXp p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bulCXp a{font-weight:bold}.gOoYlj{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}@media(min-width:1000px){.parallax .gOoYlj{max-width:1240px}}.fdtMsm{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.fdtMsm{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fdtMsm{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cuYuhQ{background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-2,.cuYuhQ .sc-1cmj4ml-0{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cuYuhQ .sc-1cmj4ml-0{margin-bottom:16px}.eBMXOi{max-width:100%;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.kFNaRc .sc-qvufca-1{padding:0 16px}}.fzuCgM{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fmcHss{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fmcHss.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.hlxBlR{min-height:600px}.hlxBlR #mpu1,.hlxBlR #sidebar1{position:sticky;top:16px}.MxpAk{min-height:250px}.clQXMC{max-width:100%}.eEtnsS{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.PbXHI{margin:0 0 12px}.hVucHy{height:380px}.pAheK{width:100%;height:51px}.lgmjvx{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#919191,#646464)}.gSAEA-d{margin-bottom:16px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#d3d3d3,#919191)}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e;background-color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;fill:light-dark(#fff,#000);stroke:transparent}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#222);font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:light-dark(#222,#222)}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg-opaque:light-dark(rgba(34,34,34,0.7),rgba(34,34,34,0.7))}}.fgtiQY{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.fgtiQY{display:none}}.eqQkhO{width:308px;height:100%;margin-left:auto}.eqQkhO.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.eqQkhO{display:none}}.article-liveblog .dzfINj{background-color:#f7f7f7;background-color:light-dark(#f7f7f7,#222)}.jBkNwU{justify-content:center}.cumEve{justify-content:center}@keyframes hqVOOe1548920386{from{transform:translateX(0)}to{transform:translateX(-100%)}}@keyframes bReFEb1548920386{from{transform:translateX(100%)}to{transform:translateX(0)}}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News World Americas US Election 2020 ‘It’s potentially pushing people away’: Trump's rallies are failing to attract new voters, experts say ‘The president’s rally is absolutely the best weapon the campaign,’ Trump campaign spokesperson insists
Trump suggests new slogan of Make America Great Again Again 'so I can sell you more hats' Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies are not providing any “additional benefit” in the run up to the election in terms of attracting new voters, experts have warned.
Large rallies were a hallmark of the president’s campaign in 2016, showing thousands of people in packed crowds vocally showing their support for the then presidential candidate.
However, a report by Bloomberg has said that experts and Democrats have speculated whether this year, the events are only reaching those in his core fan base, and expressed skepticism that the events are having a tangible impact on votes.
“The rapid-fire Trump rallies, while clearly well-received by the base, have done nothing to tip the scale in President Trump’s direction,” Tim Malloy, a pollster from Quinnipiac University, told the outlet.
Alan Abramowitz, an Emory University professor who has studied the impact of Mr Trump’s rallies in previous elections has said they didn’t influence voting in the states where they were held and that he expects the same result in this election.
“It doesn’t seem like you’re getting any additional benefit,” he said.
This year, amidst the obstructions caused by the pandemic, Mr Trump has relied on packed rallies for both media attention and a surrogate for more in-person events.
“I am sure his base is eating it up, but these events don’t change minds,” said Alison Jones, chair of the Pima County Democratic Party in Arizona, where Mr Trump held a rally last week.
Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign told Bloomberg that “the rally has always been, and is, an important part of the campaign.”
Republicans have said the rallies also benefit them as they use them to gather voter data from attendees.
“The media and Democrats can scoff at the rally if they want to and think that the president is running a strictly base election,” Mr Murtaugh said.
“We know through data that that is absolutely untrue. The president is expanding his support. The president’s rally is absolutely the best weapon the campaign has because our best asset is the candidate, President Trump.
Holding rallies in defiance of coronavirus health recommendations has also reportedly fueled some voters’ disapproval of his handling of the pandemic, and cemented Mr Biden’s argument that the president is not taking the crisis seriously.
Nancy Zdunkewicz, a Democratic pollster with Change Research told Bloomberg that the rallies may in fact be “pushing people away that might otherwise be with him”.
“He needs to win over some folks. And what he’s doing is not only preventing him from winning over folks, it’s potentially pushing people away that might otherwise be with him -- especially with the Covid stuff,” she said.
“He’s highlighting this issue which is the place where he is doing the worst.”
Mr Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden has kept a limited travel schedule in light of the coronavirus pandemic, having only held two events since last Thursday’s debate.
“We’re not putting out super spreaders,” Mr Biden said on Monday in Pennsylvania. “Everybody’s wearing a mask and trying as best as we can to be socially distanced,” he said.
Mr Biden is leading Mr Trump by about eight percentage points in national polls, according to RealClearPolitics.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments