Trump Campaign Prepaid Over $82,000 for Last-Minute Asheville Rally
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign had to pay more than $82,000 upfront for a rally in Asheville, North Carolina, scheduled for this week. This payment was necessitated by the city’s policy for short-notice event bookings, as reported by Blue Ridge Public Radio. The advance payment stands in contrast to Trump’s history of leaving rally-related bills unpaid, totaling over $850,000 to various cities during his previous campaigns, including a significant amount owed to El Paso, Texas, according to reporting by Newsweek.
The rally is set to take place at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, a venue with a capacity of 2,431 seats, which is notably smaller than the nearby arena that can hold 7,200 people. The $82,247.60 payment includes a $22,500 rental fee for two days, with the remaining amount covering costs like production staff, equipment rental, and external amenities, according to Asheville’s city spokesperson.
Trump’s Focus on Crowd Sizes
Donald Trump has consistently emphasized the size of his rally crowds, often inflating attendance numbers. This fixation has intensified recently, as large crowds have been reported at rallies for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. In response, Trump falsely claimed that one of his rallies drew 100,000 people during a news conference last week, and accused the media of exaggerating Harris’s rally attendance.
Trump’s decision to campaign in North Carolina highlights the significance of the state in the upcoming election. Historically, North Carolina has leaned Republican, but its status as a battleground state is increasingly apparent. Despite President Joe Biden’s loss to Trump in North Carolina by a narrow margin in 2020, a recent poll shows that Harris is now tied with Trump in the state.
The Battle for North Carolina
The Asheville rally is part of Trump’s broader campaign strategy in North Carolina, a state that has been a Republican stronghold in presidential elections since the 1980s, except for Barack Obama’s narrow victory in 2008. The competition between Trump and Harris in North Carolina is expected to be fierce, with both campaigns vying for the state’s 15 electoral votes. As the race tightens, the impact of each rally and campaign stop becomes more critical, potentially swaying undecided voters in this pivotal state.
Maintaining Momentum
The Asheville rally is not just about securing North Carolina but also about maintaining momentum in a campaign facing significant challenges. The recent surge in support for Harris and Walz has put pressure on Trump, who has been striving to reassert his dominance in the race. His focus on rally attendance and crowd size, coupled with his attacks on the media, reveals a campaign strategy deeply concerned with optics and public perception.
As Trump continues his efforts in North Carolina and beyond, the implications of each move, including financial decisions like the advance payment for the Asheville rally, will be closely watched. The outcome in North Carolina could serve as a bellwether for the broader election, making every action by the campaigns in this state particularly consequential.
