The Trump campaign is optimistic about their chances in solid-blue states like Minnesota and Virginia against President Biden in the upcoming election, despite losing both states by wide margins in 2020. Virginia, once a solid Republican state, has shifted Democratic in recent years, largely due to the growth of left-leaning suburbs in Northern Virginia. Minnesota, which has voted Republican only three times since 1932, has also been a tough ask for Trump, having lost the state by 7.1 percentage points in the last election.
The Trump campaign official mentioned that states like Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina are slipping out of Biden’s reach based on public polling averages. They also emphasized that voters see Biden as weak and Trump as strong, with Trump’s policies being seen as successful compared to Biden’s failures. Internal polling conducted by the campaign shows the race tightening in both Minnesota and Virginia, with Trump leading Biden by five points in Minnesota when third-party candidates are excluded.
Despite the Trump team’s optimism, some sources are skeptical about their chances in traditionally blue states like Minnesota and Virginia. Some believe that these states are fool’s gold for a Republican candidate, citing Reagan’s inability to carry Minnesota even during his landslide victories. Others argue that the effort to expand the electoral map is more of a bluff to force the Biden campaign to divert time and resources to defending these states, much like George W. Bush did with John Kerry in 2004.
The RealClearPolitics polling averages show Biden leading Trump in both states, but public polling has been sparse and limited. The most recent internal polling conducted by the Trump campaign shows a much tighter race in both Minnesota and Virginia, with Trump either tied or leading Biden. The campaign’s attempt to expand their path to victory comes as Biden’s re-election campaign is also looking to make inroads in states like Florida and North Carolina, which went for Trump in 2020 and are expected to do so again.
Overall, the Trump campaign remains bullish about their prospects in states like Minnesota and Virginia, despite historical voting trends and recent losses. Both campaigns are looking to make strategic moves to secure victories in key battleground states, with the electoral map becoming increasingly difficult for Republicans as the number of swing states shrinks. The upcoming election is shaping up to be highly competitive, with both sides vying for every possible advantage to secure victory.
