The Trump campaign is focusing on expanding its ground game in traditionally Democratic states Minnesota and Virginia, aiming to put President Biden’s campaign on the defensive. This effort includes securing leases for multiple campaign offices and hiring new staff to manage the ground game in these states. By targeting Minnesota and Virginia, the campaign believes it can create additional pathways to securing the 270 electoral votes needed for victory in the next election. James Blair, the Trump campaign’s political director, outlined these plans in an internal memo obtained exclusively by CBS News.
Trump’s interest in flipping Minnesota and Virginia stems from internal campaign polls showing a potential weakness in President Biden’s support in these states, as well as Trump’s success with Black and Hispanic voters. While Minnesota has not been won by a Republican since Richard Nixon in 1972, Trump came close in 2016. Virginia has not supported a Republican in a presidential election for over two decades, with Biden winning the state by a significant margin in 2020. Additionally, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, recently met with Trump to discuss ways to improve his standing in the state, sharing polling data that suggests Trump is competitive with Biden there.
Despite the historical trends in these states, Trump is focusing on making Biden’s campaign allocate resources to traditionally safe Democratic states. The Democratic National Committee has invested significant funds in Minnesota ahead of the election, while the Biden campaign has established field offices in Virginia and held grassroots events. Biden’s campaign spokesperson responded to Trump’s efforts by stating that if he wants to expend time and resources campaigning in blue states, they welcome it. Trump is planning visits to both Virginia and Minnesota, with upcoming events scheduled after his first presidential debate with Biden.
The Trump campaign’s strategy in Minnesota and Virginia appears to be part of a broader effort to expand the electoral map and compete in traditionally Democratic states. By investing in ground operations and campaign infrastructure in these states, the campaign aims to challenge Biden’s dominance and potentially secure key electoral votes. While the outcome in Minnesota and Virginia remains uncertain, Trump’s campaign is making a significant push to change the political landscape and increase its chances of victory in the upcoming election.
