President Donald Trump held telephone rallies in New Jersey and Virginia on the eve of the Nov. 4 election to mobilize voters.
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President Donald Trump heavily promoted the New Jersey gubernatorial race during a teleconference on the eve of Election Day, declaring that “the whole country” is watching New Jersey and touting Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
However, at a similar event to support Republican candidates in Virginia on Monday, Nov. 3, President Trump did not even mention Republican candidate Winsome Earl Sears by name, distancing himself from the race where Democrat Abigail Spanberger has a large lead in the polls, NBC News and CNN reported.
The president’s contrasting approaches to Republican candidates in Virginia and New Jersey could be indicative of their political prospects, as the Real Clear Politics polling average has Earl Sears with a 10-point lead, while Ciatarelli is trailing by just 3 points.
President Trump endorsed Ciatarelli and said of New Jersey, “The polls look very strong. It’s almost even.”
President Trump does not support Earl Sears. According to NBC and CNN, he told voters during a Nov. 3 conference call to support the Virginia Republican Party, without mentioning her by name, although he praised Virginia’s Republican attorney general candidate Jason Miyares by name.
Republicans are focused on the race for attorney general in Virginia, where Miyares will face Democrat Jay Jones, who has been embroiled in a texting scandal.
President Trump was asked by reporters on Air Force One about his campaign in Virginia on his way back to the White House from Florida, and he said that Earl Sears was “great,” but noted that he was “not really involved in Virginia.”
Off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, California, New York City and elsewhere are seen as important early barometers of how voters feel about Democrats fighting President Trump and his aggressive policies. President Trump has become a prominent figure in the campaign, appearing in ads and being a frequent topic of discussion during debates, as Democrats slam his record and Republicans support it.
