Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a beachfront rally on the Jersey Shore this Saturday, marking his return to the campaign trail amidst ongoing legal proceedings. The event, scheduled in Wildwood, South New Jersey, will be Trump's third rally since the commencement of his trial in New York.
While New Jersey is not typically considered a battleground state, Wildwood, situated in Cape May County, has shown a favorable inclination towards Republicans. Trump secured 57.5% of the vote in the county in 2020 and 58.4% in 2016.
Despite some Republican reservations about campaigning in a historically Democratic state, the Trump campaign aims to leverage the proximity to the media market in Pennsylvania and garner local TV coverage in Philadelphia. The rally is expected to draw attendees from Philadelphia and its suburbs, located about an hour and a half drive from Wildwood.
Trump's previous rally in Wildwood in January 2020 was in support of Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican during Trump's first impeachment trial. Van Drew, leading the Trump campaign's efforts in New Jersey, is scheduled to speak at the upcoming rally.
While Trump has been criticized for not fully utilizing his off days from court to campaign, his decision to rally in Wildwood is seen as strategic due to its proximity to his trial in Manhattan and his golf club in Bedminster. The choice to campaign in New Jersey has raised eyebrows, with some questioning the prioritization of a non-battleground state over crucial 2024 swing states.
Republican strategist Matt Gorman suggested that the location of Wildwood offers Trump a cost-effective opportunity to engage with his base in a familiar setting. The rally aims to reignite the enthusiasm witnessed during Trump's 2020 event in the area.
