GOP claims Trump might win Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia in 2024 election. This is what Democrats say.

Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, had a prepared reply for the query he is been listening to extra recently: Is his state swinging towards former President Donald Trump this November?

“I do not see it on the bottom. Donald Trump says plenty of issues that are not true,” the multi-tasking governor advised CBS Information whereas he was making ready for a invoice signing and tending to his barking canine. Walz is one in all a number of high-profile Minnesota Democrats making an attempt to defuse rising Republican claims.

Throughout conferences with congressional Republicans on Capitol Hill final week, Republicans uncorked an argument that they consider Trump is aggressive in Minnesota, New Jersey and Virginia on this 12 months’s election. Although the declare shouldn’t be backed by broad units of polling, and although it is a widespread political technique to boast a few rising political battlefield to persuade opponents to spend extra to defend their pursuits, Democrats are responding aggressively and — in some instances — colorfully.  

“If Trump desires to spend his money and time making an attempt to marketing campaign in blue states, be our visitor,” a spokesperson for the Biden marketing campaign stated.

Some Democrats are daring Trump to take a position cash within the states, however others are urging warning that the three states should not be taken without any consideration. Walz shouldn’t be within the latter class.

“He nonetheless claims he gained right here in 2016 and 2020 and that is not true,” Walz stated of Trump’s ongoing baseless claims about polls and elections. 

“When President Biden comes right here, he delivers a billion {dollars} for the most essential bridge within the higher Midwest,” Walz stated. “When Donald Trump comes right here, it is hate, grievances and ridiculous tales.”

“I feel Trump and the Republicans are actually greedy at straws right here,” Sen. Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat, advised CBS Information.  

Nonetheless, “this shall be an in depth election,” Smith stated. “Do not get me fallacious, however that is why the Biden marketing campaign is placing collectively such a powerful effort right here.”

The Democratic Nationwide Committee has invested about $500,000 in Minnesota forward of the election, for employees, expertise, outreach efforts, electronic mail fundraising, information and operations infrastructure, and party-building initiatives. 

The optimism was doused by Rep. Dean Phillips, the Minnesota Home member who briefly challenged Mr. Biden for the Democratic nomination. 

“Turnout will matter. I feel Trump is true,” he advised CBS Information. “And if he spends time in Minnesota, it should solely assist him.”

The electoral votes of Minnesota, New Jersey and Virginia should not anticipated to be decisive, since a Trump victory in these states would solely contribute to a probable electoral landslide.   

And Mr. Biden would nonetheless want a bunch of a number of swing states to safe victory, even when he prevails in Minnesota, New Jersey and Virginia.

However Trump’s assembly with congressional Republicans launched hypothesis that the GOP is contemplating investing in cities like Minneapolis, Trenton and Richmond. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, who was reportedly into account to be Trump’s working mate, stated, “I am listening to some optimistic issues out of Minnesota. I feel it is way more in play than it has been within the final couple of cycles. I truly obtained a name from a pair buddies of mine in New Jersey, they usually’re like, ‘Hey, are you guys doing something in New Jersey? It is a actual factor right here.’ And so, I feel People … need to get our nation again on observe.”

Some New Jersey Democrats scoff on the notion the Backyard State might be gained by Trump. Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat making an attempt to take Sen. Bob Menendez‘s Senate seat in November, advised CBS Information, “If President Trump desires to waste cash in New Jersey, that is on him. However I do know the power in my state — the folks need one thing totally different they usually’re completely exhausted by what Trump represents.”

“I do not assume Virginia is a Trump state, culturally,” stated Rep. Don Beyer, a Northern Virginia Democrat within the Home. However citing a latest Fox Information ballot displaying a aggressive Virginia race between Trump and Mr. Biden, Beyer added, “I need to be sure that Virginians do not take the race without any consideration. I feel each Democrat in Virginia has to deal with it as if we’re on a struggle footing.” 

Rep. Gerry Connolly, a longtime Home Democrat from Virginia, advised CBS Information, “Virginia has been a brick wall to Trump’s MAGA politics. We all know democracy is on the road, and the selection between President Biden and the twice-impeached, convicted felon could not be clearer.”

In 2020, Mr. Biden gained New Jersey and Virginia by double-digit margins. In the meantime, Minnesota Democrats boast the longest present profitable streak within the nation for Democratic presidential candidates, relationship again to 1972 — and was the outlier state on behalf of Walter Mondale in 1984 — when Ronald Reagan was working for reelection.

However political strategists stated it is a widespread ploy to hunt to develop the battlefield and triumphantly declare a bigger map.  

“Once you’re a celebration chief, Democrat or Republican, you need to say you are going to win,” stated Mike Erlandson, a former Democratic state occasion chair in Minnesota. 

A tightening race in any state has the potential to influence intently fought native races, together with for Congress. Rep. Angie Craig, a Minnesot Democrat who has efficiently navigated a battleground Home seat, advised CBS Information, “We will not take something without any consideration this 12 months: the race for the Second District is at all times extraordinarily aggressive and costly — particularly in presidential election years, so we have to verify we’re able to defend ourselves from the assaults we all know are coming.”