Thousands of New Yorkers gathered outside the historic Madison Square Garden arena hours before former President Donald Trump’s rally in this deep blue stronghold. The lines began to form shortly after midnight, according to social media posts. Trump supporters, wearing red MAGA caps, braved the chilly weather, with some lining up a full 24 hours in advance of the rally, which sold out in under three hours. The line stretched as far as the eye could see in anticipation of the former president’s expected arrival at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Madison Square Garden is going to be packed to the brim.
I wonder how many people are not going to make it in. pic.twitter.com/B0QcUgsUws
— I Meme Therefore I Am ?? (@ImMeme0) October 27, 2024
WOW: Line For Madison Square Garden Rally Is Wrapped Around BLOCKS In NYC pic.twitter.com/16RWvHzxe0
— Jayne Zirkle (@JayneZirkle) October 27, 2024
The Trump-Vance campaign has announced that the rally is expected to attract over 20,000 supporters. Alongside former President Trump, speakers will include J.D. Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rudy Giuliani, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and several others. “We sold it out in less than three hours. But people are going to come anyway. We have big screens outside. It’s going to be unbelievable. So come anyway. I mean, come, maybe you get in, I don’t know, but it sold out very quickly,” Trump said in a recent interview with Breitbart News. “It’s fantastic. It’s going to be fantastic.”
Madison Square Garden is famously known as the “world’s most famous arena” because of the numerous historic events that have taken place there, spanning both entertainment and politics. During this campaign cycle, Trump has held several rallies in blue states, partly fueled by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s controversial hush money case against him. Alongside touring parts of The Bronx during the court proceedings, Trump hosted a significant rally in the borough back in May, which drew a full-capacity crowd to Crotona Park and an overflow crowd that extended across multiple city blocks.
The Republican nominee will also be holding a rally in Virginia, a state that, according to a recent poll from Quantus Insights, is crucial for the campaign, alongside Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. Meanwhile, Trump has established a slim lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll. This shift reflects a favorable perception of Trump’s policies and previous tenure, contrasted with growing skepticism toward Harris. The poll shows Trump leading Harris by a narrow margin of 47% to 45%, a reversal from Harris’s 2-point advantage in August. Since both leads fall within the poll’s margin of error, the actual leader remains uncertain.
Harris’s approval ratings have declined, while Trump’s ratings have improved, the survey indicates. In August, Harris had a 50% favorability rate among voters, which has now decreased to 45%. Currently, 53% of voters view her unfavorably. Harris is experiencing her lowest job performance ratings since the Wall Street Journal began tracking this metric, with 54% disapproving and only 42% approving of her performance as vice president.
The poll also reveals that voters have more trust in Trump than Harris on key issues like the economy and immigration. Trump’s lead over Harris on economic matters has expanded to 12 points, up from 8 points in August. Regarding immigration, his advantage has more than doubled, increasing from a 7-point lead in August to a 15-point lead now. “Voters are finally getting to know her,” Republican pollster David Lee said to the WSJ, who conducted the poll. “The definitional period is coming to an end, and more people are unhappy with what they have learned about her than what they know about President Trump.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.