John Hendrickson: “His midweek stop at a suburban arena some 20 miles west of the Queens hospital where he was born seemed more vibes-based than tactical. Trump told the crowd that he would flip the state from blue to red on the electoral map for the first time in decades, a claim so improbable, even he didn’t seem to believe it. Slightly more likely is that Trump’s presence may affect downballot races and the state’s congressional makeup. Although New York City is reliably blue, pockets of Long Island are Trump country.”
“Indeed, the rally site was packed with his fans, who seemed even more enamored of the former president and his antics than usual. Some also spoke of him as something akin to a living martyr.”
