Trump Campaign Boosts ‘Aura of Invincibility’ Amid Low Turnout and Close Polling

As Election Day looms, former President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy is sparking debate, with some suggesting the rallies in states he’s unlikely to win are a strategy to counter low turnout in core MAGA regions. According to an MSNBC panel on Morning Joe, Trump’s current campaign rallies in blue states, such as upcoming events in Virginia and New Mexico, reflect an effort to create a sense of victory despite close polling that suggests a tight race.

Morning Joe co-host Jonathan Lemire proposed that Trump’s campaign is emphasizing an “aura of invincibility” by concentrating on positive news, even if polling data suggest a close race. Lemire explained, “The Trump team is going to boast and focus on the good news because the boss, i.e., Trump, doesn’t want to hear the bad. There’s not someone walking in saying, ‘Sir, we’re losing’ — that’s not how that campaign works.”

He added that any data showing Trump trailing or in a tight race is typically withheld from Trump to avoid displeasure. Instead, aides are projecting confidence and victory, a tactic that serves another purpose as well. “They want to get their supporters so conditioned to expect a win that if they lose, it stokes anger, which can help contest the election,” Lemire explained.

This strategy of rallying in blue states — such as Virginia and New Mexico — not only creates a “novelty factor,” as Lemire described but also may work to draw fresh attention where his presence is less frequent. Lemire noted, “Trump, this is his third presidential cycle. He’s been in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan so many times people have seen him, so he’s having trouble drawing the rally crowds he wants. If he goes somewhere new, he’s more of a novelty factor, and people will show up.”

The Morning Joe panel also discussed Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent successful rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., contrasting it with Trump’s campaign’s current approach. The Trump campaign, however, appears to be using these events to maintain the narrative of a lead, creating an image of dominance as polls tighten.

Adding to this, Lemire pointed out, “The Trump team says, well, we see numbers there we thought we could be in play, maybe help some congressional candidates. Democrats suggest the opposite,” meaning that while the campaign outwardly claims to be competitive in these blue areas, Democrats see the events differently.

Political experts argue that by hosting rallies in less predictable states, the Trump campaign is both tapping into regions where his novelty may attract new rally-goers and creating an appearance of strategic expansion beyond traditional battlegrounds. Yet, the motivation behind such moves remains a topic of debate, as they simultaneously counterbalance concerns about turnout in usual MAGA territories, where enthusiasm may be waning after several election cycles.

With days to go before the election, Trump’s campaign is working to project confidence. But the MSNBC panel’s analysis raises questions about whether this confidence is an authentic reflection of his campaign’s strength or a carefully crafted strategy to keep supporters motivated and ensure the campaign remains competitive, even in the face of tight polling. As Lemire concluded, “They’re projecting the victory to lay the groundwork for a possible appeal,” aiming to galvanize supporters who are fully convinced of an impending Trump win.