Trump heads to South Carolina for another rally before Democratic primary
WASHINGTON — President Trump is angling to upstage his Democratic challengers again, this time with a rally on the eve of South Carolina’s presidential primary in the Palmetto State.
“Some people say I’m trolling the Democrats and maybe I am,” Trump said at the White House.
Trump has held rallies in each of the four early voting states for the presidential nomination, drawing thousands of MAGA- and KAGhatted supporters in crowds that dwarf those most Democratic candidates have managed to attract. He went to Nevada last week even though Republicans had canceled their presidential caucus to show allegiance to the president. Likewise, South Carolina GOP officials opted not to hold a primary this year.
But that’s not stopping Trump, who has reveled in poking his challengers in the run-up to their contests.
Unlike the three earlier voting states, South Carolina is not considered a swing state. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in South Carolina by more than 14 percentage points in 2016.
Following today’s contest, more than a dozen states vote next week in Super Tuesday contests.
Trump arrives in North Charleston, S.C., following a brutal week for the stock market. Stocks sank again Friday after another wild day on Wall Street, extending a rout that handed the market its worst week since October 2008, at the height of the financial crisis.
Analysts worry that the stock swoon could cause consumer spending to contract. Such spending makes up some 70% of the economy and has played a huge role in keeping the U.S. economic expansion going.
Trump has linked his presidency to the markets through tweets and speeches often taking credit for each new high in the markets. Now, Trump is trying to reassure Americans the economy is still strong, while noting that the United States is one of the best prepared nations to handle a pandemic in the world. He’s also theorized that the Democratic candidates’ debate performances have spooked investors.