Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Urging his supporters to vote in numbers to make the 2024 election “too big to rig,” former President Donald Trump spent Saturday evening at his Lehigh Valley rally giving a preview of what he will do to regain the White House.
“I want to be back in this beautiful commonwealth with thousands of proud, hard-working American patriots,” Trump said at the rally at the Schnecksville Fire Company Fairgrounds in North Whitehall Township. “That’s what you are. We’re here to help. We’re going to win Pennsylvania and we’re going to defeat crooked Joe Biden. We’re going to make America great again.”
On a cool, windy evening, more than 4,000 people packed into a fenced area of the fairgrounds that included a stage and three sets of bleachers. Several stood in line for many hours in wet weather to enter the grounds, which gradually filled after gates were opened after 3 p.m.
Trump arrived about a half-hour late after attending an event in Bucks County. His speech lasted a little longer than an hour, and he commended the crowd for braving the weather.
Trump spoke hours after Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel in an escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Trump claimed the attack, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, never would have occurred if he were still in office.
“We will return the world to a peaceful state,” Trump said. “Today we are considered a joke. It’s not going to be for long.”
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump dances during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump greets attendees during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets attendees during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets attendees during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets attendees during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally outside Schnecksville Fire Co. on April 13, 2024, in Schnecksville, Pa. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump takes the stage Saturday, Aug. 13, 2024, at his campaign rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump takes the stage Saturday, Aug. 13, 2024, at his campaign rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Supporters line up on Ritter Court on Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Donald Trump’s airplane, a Boeing 757-2J4 parks on the at Hangar 7 at LVIA in Allentown, during his rally at Schecksville Fire Company. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
The crowd waits for former President Donald Trump to take the stage at a campaign rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
A supporter wearing a Trump mask is seen as the crowd waits for former President Donald Trump to take the stage at a campaign rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
A camper with Donald Trump memorabilia was parked near the rally Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Schecksville Fire Company. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
A large gathering of Trump supporters stand roadside to watch his motorcade arrive at the rally on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Donald Trump’s motorcade travels on Route 309 North Saturday, April 13, 2024 just before arriving at his rally at Schecksville Fire Company. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump's motorcade arrives at his rally Saturday night, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump's motorcade arrives at his rally Saturday night, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
The crowd enters the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds Saturday, Aug. 13, 2024, for the Trump rally. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Tammy Ayers of Hop Bottom, left, and Linda Bonczkiewicz of Dalton attend the Trump rally Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Judy Austin of Marydel, Delaware, left, and Rose Sherlinski of Wilkes Barre, attend the Trump rally Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former U.S. Rep. Fred Keller of Pennsylvania's 12th District attends the Trump rally Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Gates open at the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Dick Muehleisen of Scott Township attends the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Jill Troutman and Karen Pfeiffer, both of Schnecksville, attend the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former Chester County Sheriff Bunny Welsh, a candidate for RNC delegate in Pennsylvania's 6th District, is seen ahead of the Trump rally Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Ethan Brozman, 11, attends a campaign event with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
The scene inside the Trump rally as gates first opened Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Attendees gather as former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Along Route 309 in South Whitehall Township, siblings Ken and Kelly Dando held a Palestinian flag, as well as a small poster inviting people to a “traitor convention” ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Fairgrounds. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)
Heather Marsello of Schnecksville, shown next to her husband Joe, was wearing a "Biden" hoodie that described him as a one-star president at the Trump rally Saturday, April 23, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)
Judy Pezzuto of Bushkill Township, Northampton County, and Susan Maxwell of Effort, Monroe County, said they were the first to arrive at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Fairgrounds around 5 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, for the Trump rally. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)
Dorothy Minnich, of Whitehall, Pam Agard of Unadilla, New York, Constandina Roux of Butternut, New York, and Liz Hahn of Whitehall try and stay warm ahead of the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Sam Wakeley of Chalfont attends the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
"Patriot Will" attends the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
The crowd cheers as the sun peeks through the clouds Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Jim Crawford of Bloomsbury, N.J., wears a sling his wife made for him at the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
John Russell of Aurora, Illinois, drove 11.5 hours to attend the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Vendor Dan Kintner of Souderton sells Trump merchandise Saturday, April 13, 2024, on Route 309 ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Vendor Dan Kintner of Souderton sells Trump merchandise Saturday, April 13, 2024, on Route 309 ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Vendor Dan Kintner of Souderton sells Trump merchandise Saturday, April 13, 2024, on Route 309 ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
An official directs traffic at Route 309 and Ritter Court in North Whitehall Township on Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Traffic is seen at Route 309 and Ritter Court in North Whitehall Township on Saturday afternoon, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Rachel Castillo of Hoboken, New Jersey, sports USA sunglasses Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Trump rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Justin Fuchs of Cazenovia, New York, holds up his MAGA license plate Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of the Trump rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump flags wave in the wind Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Jeff Ciulla, Tina Strick and Michelle Ciulla, all of Pottsville, try to stay warm Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of the Trump rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
A sampling of the pro-Donald Trump merchandise at the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Robb Wolters of Allentown, left, Chris Frey of Kutztown and her husband Bob Frey attend the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Zachery Elbert of Germansville is seen on his 2008 Chevy off-road mudding truck Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of the Trump rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
A sign at the Burger King on Route 309, near the site of a campaign rally by former President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Fairgrounds, asks him to come in for a whopper. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)
Damian Riebe, 11, of Bethlehem stands in front of a monster truck at the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Bentley, 3, of Thomasville, Ga., attends the Trump rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump supporters brave the elements Saturday, April 13, 2024, before his rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Kayleigh Klotz of Schnecksville shows her support for former President Donald Trump hours before his rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Tim Rex of Northampton arrived at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, to secure a spot ahead of his rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump supporters arrived early Saturday, April 13, 2024, to secure their spot ahead of his rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Victoria Spencer of Albrightsville, left, Beth Jaindl of Newport, Kathy Kocher of Slatington, and Jackie Cox of Orefield, far right, arrived at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, hours before former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Kathy Kocher of Slatington shows off her Make America Great Again nails Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Trump rally in Schnecksville. Kocher arrived at 6 a.m. to grab her spot. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Supporters line up on Ritter Court on Saturday, April 13, 2024, ahead of former President Donald Trump's rally at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)
Stephen Toth of Macungie, who owns Physical Graffiti-Tee’s in Allentown, stopped by the Burger King to grab some lunch and smoke about his support for Trump ahead of a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Schnecksville Fire Co. fairgrounds. Toth was selling T-shirts along Route 309. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)
Members of the audience during a rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump outside Schnecksville Fire Hall on April 13, 2024 in Schnecksville, Pa. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Attendees gather as former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Attendees gather as former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Attendees gather as former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign event in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
John Russell of Aurora, IL., attends a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. Russell drove 11-1/2 hours to attend the rally. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally for his 2024 presidential bid Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters go through security prior to the start of a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Trump supporters attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Robb Wolters of Allentown, left, Chris Frey and her husband Bob of Kutztown attend a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Zachery Elbert of Germansville attends a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. Elbert drove his 2008 Chevy Silverado mudding truck for display. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Zachery Elbert of Germansville attends a rally Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township for former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. Elbert drove his 2008 Chevy Silverado mudding truck for display. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Besides foreign policy, Trump jumped around to different subjects, such as his legal issues, crime, the Southern border, inflation, energy policy and transgender athletes.
Like many of his speeches, his fiery rhetoric was aimed to motivate his fans that made up just about his entire audience, rather than be persuasive. Trump consistently called President Joe Biden and other Democrats “communists,” “fascists” and “demented tyrants.”
And the audience responded with several standing ovations, especially when Trump called on Biden to participate in a presidential debate.
He said he was ready to debate Biden “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.” An empty podium was placed on the stage with a sign saying that.
Trump turned his own legal troubles — he faces numerous civil lawsuits and more than 80 criminal charges on four indictments — into a “badge of honor,” incorrectly claiming he’s been indicted “more times than Al Capone.”
“I’m being indicted for you,” he said to roars from the crowd.
Trump his first criminal trial is slated to begin Monday in New York City, where he is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide payments to an adult film star. Trump, whose attorneys attempted to delay the proceeding, called it a “Biden trial.” Trump has denied wrongdoing.
“On Monday in New York City, I will be forced to sit, fully gagged,” he said. “They want to take away my constitutional right to talk.”
The judge in the case has issued a gag order against Trump, barring him from making public statements related to the trial about probable witnesses. The order also prevents Trump from making public statements about jurors, court staff, lawyers in the case or relatives of prosecutors or the judge. Trump can criticize the judge himself and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
He was especially critical of Bragg and wondered why he wasn’t doing more to fight crime in the city, which he said was at “record highs.”
However, New York Police Department statistics show that murders were down 11.9% in 2023 compared with 2022 and were lower than 2019. Rapes, burglaries and shootings have all seen double-digit percentage point decreases since 2022.
“The violent crime murders, killings all of this stuff, muggings and [Bragg] leaves them alone,” Trump said. “When I do something that is not a crime when I go into court they’ve got like nine prosecutors. In the meantime, with people that murder, nobody does anything.”
Trump said many of the criminals were coming over the border with Mexico, which he claimed was virtually undefended. He put a chart on the big screen behind the stage to show a sharply rising number of border crossings after he left office.
“Job No. 1 is going to be as soon as we take office, we will seal the border, we’re going to stop the invasion and send Joe Biden’s illegal aliens back down,” Trump said. “We had the safest border, the most secure border in the history of our country four years ago.”
The U.S. Border Patrol said it had almost 250,000 “encounters” at the Mexican border in December, which was a record. It’s also an issue that could be trouble for Biden as a Pew Research poll of American adults say the situation is either a “crisis” (45%) or a “major problem” (32%) for the U.S.
Another issue Trump is sure to talk about over the months is inflation. The annual inflation rate was 3.5% for the 12 months ending in March, compared with the previous rate of 3.2%, according to the U.S. Labor Department data published last week. While not as bad as the 7% annual rate earlier in Biden’s term — the monthly rate did get as high as 9% — Americans are still feeling the pain.
“Gasoline prices are up over 50% and electricity prices are up 39%, rising 13 times faster than under the previous seven years,” Trump said. “When I’m back in the White House, we will then fill Biden’s inflation train wreck.”
One way to bring down prices, Trump said, is to increase domestic energy production in the U.S., especially in Pennsylvania with increased extraction of natural gas and coal. He said he will slow down, and perhaps stop, the transition to electric cars, which the Biden administration is pushing.
“Pennsylvania jobs are at risk,” Trump said. “He’s risking your lives. He’s risking new jobs, but he doesn’t care because all he cares about is the green new scam, the green New Deal, whatever that thing is, Biden is also trying to abolish gasoline-powered automobiles and force everyone into an all-electric car.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent rule on carbon emissions, which came out in March, slows implementation of stricter pollution standards from 2027 through 2029, after the auto industry called proposed benchmarks unworkable. The rule ramps up to nearly reach the level the EPA preferred by 2032.
While abortion was not mentioned in his speech, Trump did bring up some social issues such as transgender athletes competing in women’s sports and the alleged teaching of critical race theory, a postgraduate college course, in elementary schools. He also said, to great applause, that he would cut off funding for schools that mandate vaccines.
Local reaction
North Whitehall is in the 16th state Senate District, which is represented by Jarrett Coleman, who was thrilled to play host to Trump.
“It’s clear to everyone on the federal level that the Lehigh Valley is very important,” said Coleman, R-Lehigh, who is in his first term. “Anyone’s success statewide, whether it’s state level, federal level, all the way up … that’s because I think how the voters turn out in the Lehigh Valley is oftentimes representative of how the state will vote.”
Coleman said he knew quite a few people who wanted to come to the rally, but had to work instead. Economic issues, he said, will make a big difference for many.
“A huge issue that I think is a real driver for the election,” he said.
On the other hand, state Rep. Joshua Siegel, D-Lehigh, said Trump was in Pennsylvania to continue his extreme and dangerous campaign to destroy democracy, while undermining reproductive rights, access to health care and the U.S. as a global leader.
“Donald Trump’s visit to the Lehigh Valley only elevates the importance of retaking the U.S House majority to put an end to the chaos that their control has caused from cheap political stunts, baseless impeachments and embarrassing antics, the Republican majority has proven it has no vision, no plan and no idea how to govern,” Siegel said in a statement.
The only candidate to receive Trump’s endorsement Saturday was businessman Dave McCormick, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Casey.
No endorsement was made in the race for the 7th U.S. House District. Three GOP candidates are running in the April 23 primary to take on Democratic Rep. Susan Wild: state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh, businessman Kevin Dellicker and attorney Maria Montero.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9th District, who warmed up the crowd for Trump, only mentioned Montero when he brought up the 7th District race.
“Maria calls [Wild] ‘San Fran Susan’ because she votes 100% of the time with Nancy Pelosi,” Meuser said.
The last time Trump visited the Valley was October 2020, when in the closing days of his reelection campaign, he held a rally in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
Biden visited the Lehigh Valley in January, touting his economic initiatives with small-business owners in Emmaus and firefighters in Allentown.
Acknowledging the importance of Pennsylvania, Biden is headed Tuesday to his hometown of Scranton to talk about tax policy, and will make stops in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia later in the week.
The presidential race in the Keystone State is in a dead heat, according to Real Clear Polling, which has Biden up by a 10th of a point, 46.3% to 46.2%. The most recent of the polls, from Franklin & Marshall College that was taken on March 20-21, has Biden up by 10.
Others that were taken in March are either tied, or have Trump up by as many as 4 points.
Neither candidate has had a clear advantage in the polling average going back to October.
Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, tied with Illinois for the fifth most votes that could determine the presidency. Biden won Pennsylvania by a margin of around 80,000 votes in 2020.
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.
