President Trump holds Waukesha campaign rally
WAUKESHA, Wis. - With the White House on the line, President Donald Trump rallied in Waukesha on Saturday night, Oct. 24, speaking outdoors at Waukesha County Airport's Stein Aircraft Service.
It was President Trump's fifth trip to the Badger State since August -- and second in as many Saturdays.
"If we win Wisconsin, we win," President Trump said Saturday. "We win Wisconsin, it's over."
In 2016, Wisconsin was the tipping point, giving President Trump enough electoral votes to win. That year, President Trump won 59% of Waukesha County, underperforming other recent Republican nominees.
The airport rally was supposed to be at Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport, but the airport's director said no, citing delays for other flights. He also stated the event would violate Milwaukee's health order limits on public gatherings.
A billboard near the site of the Waukesha event called it a "COVID superspreader." The rally, held in one of the country's COVID-19 hot spot states went against health warnings to avoid large crowds. Still, supporters tell FOX6 they were comfortable attending.
"I'm not saying it's not a serious thing, but it's overrated in my opinion," said Paul Wettstein of Jackson.
This latest rally is part of the president's campaign to repeat his 2016 victory, though he told the crowd his win will be even larger this year. In 2016, President Trump won the state by fewer than 23,000 votes over Hillary Clinton. Again this year, a Real Clear Politics average of Wisconsin polls puts the president behind. He currently trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden by 4.6 points in this state.
"I'm concerned about it, but at the same time, everybody I talk to, it seems it's going to be a landslide win, hopefully," Wettstein said.
"I think it's going red and red big, because I mean, look at this, this is insane, for a COVID thing," Eric Larsen of Oak Creek said of the crowd of thousands packing in outdoors.
President Trump will be back in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Oct. 27 -- to campaign in West Salem, just outside of La Crosse. Donald Trump Jr. will campaign in De Pere that same day.
While the Trump campaign is drawing large crowds, the Biden campaign is outspending the Trump campaign on TV ads in Wisconsin. Democrats criticize the rallies, like the one held Saturday, saying they are putting health at risk amid the pandemic.
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Biden, in a statement Saturday, told Wisconsin residents that President Trump failed to tell the American people the truth about the virus.
Biden promised to tackle the crisis. He said with early voting underway, Wisconsinites have a chance to "turn the page" and "restore the soul of the nation."
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The 'Make America Great Again!' event will start at 4 p.m. at Amerilux International Airport. Doors open for general admission at 2:30 p.m.