Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:30 pm
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both ended their campaigns with late night rallies that could not have been more different. Clinton’s North Carolina rally was a loud party, while Trump’s event in Michigan was a dark slog that was exactly like the incoherent nonsense that marked the launch of his campaign.
Donald Trump took the stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan and immediately complained about the musicians who are campaigning with Hillary Clinton to turn out the vote. Trump grumbled about how late it was. He discussed his secret plan to keep jobs in Michigan and promised to be the ribbon cutter in chief who will come back to the state every time a new factory opens.
Trump talked about how had won an award in Michigan once, and he grew less coherent as the speech went on. At one point, Trump claimed that his supporters were only going to sleep for two hours, get up and vote, then go to work, because he, “knows his Michigan people.” What was striking is how little Trump had changed over the course of the campaign. The Donald Trump campaign started with a speech of incoherent nonsense, and it ended with a rambling late-night jaunt through Michigan.
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In contrast, Hillary Clinton’s crowd in Raleigh, NC was held at North Carolina State University was loud. Clinton was right on message, and the crowd was rocking after getting fired up by Lady Gaga. Clinton said that she wanted joy, passion, and intensity for the nation’s young people. Hillary Clinton was all smiles and could barely contain her joy during the North Carolina event. The dark cloud that was the Trump campaign in Michigan was replaced by a burst of sunshine on the screen in North Carolina.
There was a noticeable difference in the feel of the two events. Trump went through his regular talking points, but he lacked conviction. Trump was trying to sell in the crowd wanted to buy, but the reality of likely defeat was hanging in the room. On the other hand, the Hillary Clinton event looked, sounded, and felt like a campaign and supporters who believed that they are on the cusp of victory.
Donald Trump has stayed the same, but Hillary Clinton has grown by leaps and bounds. Hillary Clinton has gone from being the most qualified candidate for president in history to speaking with the confidence of a woman who is on the verge of becoming president.
Hillary Clinton closed her campaign in strong fashion, while Donald Trump blustered and faded away.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
