Special Poll
Trump to Rally in Virginia with Youngkin Post-Debate
Former President Trump is slated to hold a rally in Virginia after next week’s presidential debate, signaling his campaign’s belief that the commonwealth could be a competitive battleground in November.
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) will join Trump at the event, marking their first public appearance together during the 2024 election cycle, according to a source confirmed by The Hill. The rally is expected to take place next Friday near Virginia Beach, though the exact location has yet to be finalized.
This development was first reported by CBS News.
During his successful 2021 campaign for governor, Youngkin generally kept his distance from Trump, creating speculation about his potential as an alternative to Trump in the 2024 presidential race. However, Youngkin decided not to pursue a presidential bid, committing instead to serving his full term as governor.
Trump and Youngkin recently met in person for the first time earlier this month at Trump’s golf club in Sterling, Virginia.
Polling indicates that the race in Virginia could be closer than in 2020, when Biden won the state by a 10-point margin over Trump. A Fox News poll conducted among Virginia registered voters from June 1-4 showed Biden and Trump tied at 48 percent each. Similarly, a Roanoke College poll from mid-May showed the candidates tied in a head-to-head match-up, with Biden leading Trump by 2 percentage points when third-party candidates were considered.
Trump and Biden are set to face off in the first of two scheduled debates on Thursday in Atlanta, hosted by CNN.
Following the debate, Trump will travel to Virginia for the rally, while President Biden will host his own campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have made several trips to North Carolina this year, aiming to flip the Tar Heel State from red to blue. In the 2020 election, Trump carried North Carolina by less than 2 percentage points, and recent polling for the 2024 race shows him leading Biden in the state. A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll from last month showed Trump ahead by 7 percentage points, while an East Carolina University poll from early June indicated a 5-point lead for Trump.