Midterm math: Trump rally targets Florida's tight race history
Supporters and critics gathered Friday at the Ocean Center as two days of early voting remain before Tuesday's election.
By Luis Medina ·
President Donald Trump addressed thousands of attendees at a rally in Daytona Beach on Friday, aiming to mobilize voters during the final stretch before the midterm elections. The event took place at the Ocean Center, where crowds began assembling before sunrise and dispersed later in the day.
The selection of a reliably Republican venue in Florida underscores the state's electoral volatility. While Trump has carried Florida in the last three presidential cycles, the 2018 gubernatorial race between Rep. Byron Donalds and David Jolly was narrow enough to trigger a recount. That history drives the current campaign strategy to maximize turnout among base voters.
David Dempster, a supporter born in Scotland, traveled four hours to attend the event. He described his citizenship as a conscious choice, stating, “I’m an American by choice, not by birth,” and added that he views Trump as “a very special man” who is “saving this country and this world.” Other attendees used ride-share services to bypass traffic congestion.
Craig Gabriel, another attendee, linked the rally to the historical tendency for ruling-party voters to abstain in midterm years. “They stay home,” Gabriel said. “If you think Trump’s people are just going to walk in and win without voting, you’re wrong. You have to vote.” Phyllis Purvis noted that Florida holds a special place in the president’s heart because he is from the state.
Outside the venue, Michelle Harle used a megaphone to voice opposition, citing rising gas prices and the ongoing conflict in Iran. She argued that the slogan “Make America Great again” has persisted for a decade without benefiting all citizens, noting that many attendees simply wear red caps to signal team membership.
Marilyn Silva expressed confidence in the president’s work ethic regardless of the election outcome. “Nobody can work harder than him,” Silva said. She emphasized the need for voters to exercise common sense and choose the right candidates, viewing the result as a reflection of voter effort rather than the president’s actions alone.
Florida voters have two more days to cast ballots in early voting before the midterm election concludes on Tuesday.
