The Bay Area, a hotbed of progressive politics, played host to a different shade of political fervor yesterday as former President Donald Trump touched down for a lucrative fundraiser. According to ABC7 News, Trump's visit to gather financial steam for his presidential campaign found a receptive audience among his supporters who lined El Camino Real in San Mateo County despite the region's deeply Democratic leanings.
While Trump was securing bags of campaign cash at an event reported by The Mercury News to be at the Woodside home of tech titan Tom Siebel, the crowd outside echoed chants. It adorned themselves in the iconography of his campaign. Despite the expected arrival of Trump's motorcade, supporters were ostensibly missed by the former President, who took an alternate route to the event. The fundraiser is critical as recent debates and polling indicate a narrowing gap between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Both Democrats and Republicans alike recognize California's potential as a fundraising goldmine. Trump's persistence in visiting the Bay Area, a region typically seen as a liberal stronghold, demonstrates his campaign's understanding. On the other hand, the Harris-Walz team has also been active on home turf, with recent fundraisers boosting their financial position in the state. As per a statement obtained by ABC7 News, Trump's supporters believe that the funds raised will significantly impact the nation's economic fortunes, with one supporter, Andrea Hyde, saying, "We are being hoodwinked," and mentioning the concern over "the cost of the future" and current inflation.
Meanwhile, a smaller contingent of demonstrators remained peaceful, advocating for Vice President Harris and criticizing Trump, reports The Mercury News. Notable among them was Woodside resident Rebekah Witter, who arrived with her horse to protest. "Trump is a total threat to this country, and I don’t understand [the] Republican voting party," Witter told The Mercury News.
Though California's donations have been substantial, with Open Secrets citing over $3 million coming from Los Altos alone for the Trump campaign, the Harris-Walz duo has maintained financial momentum with impressive fundraising totals in the state. As Trump continued his campaign journey, he made a final stop with a rally in Las Vegas, underscoring the importance of the Nevada battleground, according to a report by ABC7 News that saw the race between Trump and Harris deadlocked in the Silver State.
