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Trump lands in New Mexico and claims he won the state twice

Trump lands in New Mexico and claims he won the state twice

Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Albuquerque on Thursday where he claimed he had won two elections in New Mexico and would win again. He shared the stage with the candidate for US Senate Nella Domenici (R) and candidate for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District Yvette Herrell (R).

The rally was held at CSI Aviation near the Albuquerque International Sunport. The organizers initially faced the challenge Complications with parking, but announced a new plan the day before the rally, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

At the rally, Trump focused on immigration and border security, particularly in New Mexico. He described immigrants without permanent legal status as “murderers,” “drug addicts,” “drug dealers” and “gang members,” repeating his recent statement Call for the death penalty for migrants who kill US citizens.

“One of the main reasons we're going to win this state is because you have one of the worst border problems of any state in America, and I'm the only one who knows how to solve it,” Trump said. “I already fixed it. Four years ago you didn’t have a problem.”

Accordingly, immigrants without permanent residency status are less likely to be arrested for committing crimes, including violent crimes, than U.S.-born citizens National Institute of Justice.

Trump also claimed to have won the last two elections in New Mexico.

“We almost won it twice. Let me tell you: I think we won it twice,” Trump said.

After the rally, Steve Pearce, chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, told Daily Lobo that Trump neither won nor claimed to have won the state twice.

“He said he came close twice. “He didn’t say he won twice,” Pearce said. “I listened and worked with him.”

Trump lost New Mexico in 2020 by about 100,000 votes and in 2016 at approx 65,000 votesaccording to the New Mexico Secretary of State website.

Accordingly, New Mexico has voted Democratic since 2004 270 to winand it is not considered a Swing state this choice. Political candidates and pundits tend to focus on swing states because of their ability to influence voters and achieve electoral victories, they say NPR.

“I’m here for one simple reason,” Trump said. “I like you a lot and it’s good for my reputation in the Hispanic or Latino community.”

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During the rally, Trump repeatedly said, “Hispanics love Trump.”

A Opinion poll A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that Trump has more support among young Latino men this year than he did in 2020. Vice President Kamala Harris leads Trump among registered Latino voters overall, but the lead is narrower than ever previously four presidential election cycles, according to an NBC Opinion poll.

Trump is attracting Americans outside of the typical Republican audience, such as younger people, Pearce said.

One of the first people to attend the rally, Woody Payne, wrote “Kamala” on his hat. He believes Trump's visit is unlikely to have an impact on the way New Mexicans vote, he said.

Payne is not a Trump supporter, he said, but he wants to see Trump with his own eyes.

“I couldn’t imagine anything scarier on Halloween than going to a Trump rally wearing a Kamala hat,” Payne said.

A protest organized by the Albuquerque Party for Socialism and Liberation took place near the venue. Protesters marched from the parking lot toward CSI Aviation before being stopped by a line of police officers.

After the rally, the Democratic Party of New Mexico called the rally “unhinged” in a press release.

“Trump came to New Mexico not to win our votes, but as a sounding board to spread divisive rhetoric on his blue-state hate tour,” the press release said.

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.

“I think he's not just here to make a stop. He has a lot of stops (in) bigger states, but he’s here because he believes he can win New Mexico,” Pearce said. “We'll see. Tuesday will tell a big story.”

Lily Alexander is editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at [email protected] or X @llilyalexander

Nate Bernard is the news editor of the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at [email protected] or at X @natebernard14

Addison Fulton is the culture editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at [email protected] or at X @dailylobo


Lily Alexander

Lily Alexander is the 2024-2025 editor of the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @llilyalexander

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