Trump and Pence Campaign in Roanoke
This past Monday, Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence made a campaign stop in Roanoke, Virginia. Trump, along with Pence, took the Star City by storm on Monday. Over 1,300 attendees crowded a ballroom inside the Hotel Roanoke. On top of that, there were 1,000 people in an overflow room and another 1,000 waiting outside in the 104-degree heat (they only had 2 day
s notice of the event.)
The event was so important, not only because it was the first campaign event after the Republican National Convention, but also because of Secretary Clinton’s choice for VP. The Virginia political world was rocked last Friday when Secretary Hillary Clinton chose Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. Trump and Pence made a point throughout the event to mention how important Virginia had become to their path to victory.
The rally began with Governor Pence introducing Mr. Trump. Pence is the antonym of his running mate. Pence is calm and collected, yet always praising Mr. Trump. He is a conservative with a populist tone. He talks about “people who are tired of being told.” His speech contains the platitudes like Mr. Trump, but Governor Pence adds his record from Indiana. His midwestern delivery reminds many of a country preacher; one who may talk slow, but his words are full of wisdom.
Mr. Trump spoke afterward. I have to admit, it was similar to many speeches we have seen him deliver on television. He hops around frequently, sometimes playing off the crowd, sometimes just hamming it up for the cameras.
Mr. Trump began by lambasting the Democratic Party, especially their recently unemployed DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz. Trump made the crowd roar with laughter when he said, “Debbie, You’re Fired!” Trump then proceeded to praise Reince Priebus and the organizers of the Republican National Convention.
Trump then began to lambast his Democratic opponents. Apparently, Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are one in the same, because he called Secretary Clinton “low energy.” He also called her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, a “weird” little dude.” Trump then read statistics about Kaine’s governorship and attacked his economic record.
At one point, Mr. Trump threatened not to pay the bill for renting the Hotel Roanoke ballroom because, “it’s so damn hot in here! It’s like a sauna.” As a reporter who was standing in the back of the room, I would have to agree with Mr. Trump. I almost melted it was so hot in that room.
Finally, the floor was opened up for questions. Mr. Trump promised to support Isreal, cut regulations and taxes on small businesses, and he promised that he would build the border wall “so fast it would make your head spin.”
The interesting point of the town hall was how the questions were answered. Someone would ask a question, Mr. Trump would promise to fix it, and Governor Pence would follow it up with policy statistics from his records as Governor. Trump and Pence almost had an Abbott and Castello act. Trump would tee up the question, and Governor Pence would swing at it.
The biggest suprise of the event was how well Mike Pence can do not only on the stump but also in a town hall setting. He brings a sense of normalcy to the campaign. With Mike Pence, instead of platitudes, there are answers. Instead of being the entertainer that Mr. Trump is, Pence is the brains of the operation. Mike Pence is the smartest choice of Mr. Trump’s political career.
I am happy to report that the event occured with no protestors inside the event and only a few protestors outside. The event was a well attended and showcased how united the Republican Party is to taking back the White House. Towards the end of the rally, Trump and Pence both promised that this would not be the last we had seen of them. It will be interesting to see how much the Trump/Pence ticket will campaign in Southwest Virginia.
Photo Credit: Zack Thompson of Narrows, Virginia
