Staff Reports
Amid the wreckage left by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, former President Donald Trump is making sure his name stays at the forefront of voters’ minds—at least those still intact after the storm’s wrath. With over 200 casualties and entire towns like Chimney Rock left looking like a bad postcard from a dystopian future, some are questioning if Trump’s campaign efforts can cut through the debris of his potential opponents’ concerns about turnout in this crucial battleground.
Trump’s visit was anything but casual. He descended upon North Carolina like a phoenix, strategically hosting a blitz of events designed to rally support in an area where the GOP ordinarily boasts a loyal fanbase. The whispers of a lower Republican turnout due to the hurricane’s devastation could have easily turned into a clamor if Trump hadn’t turned up to remind folks of the importance of casting their votes—even while water levels were still receding. Who else could pull a crowd in the aftermath of a natural disaster like it was just another Tuesday?
Literally WHAT is happening in the Politico newsroom??
Trump angrily lied & politicked throughout his NC damage tour– including justifying threats against FEMA workers stemming from his own disinformation. https://t.co/nMMUqzXdpi pic.twitter.com/UV5P8WHw0I
— TJ Adams-Falconer 🇺🇸🥥🌴 (@soyTeJota) October 21, 2024
As the polling paints a tight race—Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by a hairsbreadth of half a percentage point—every vote counts in the Tar Heel State. With Republicans already on high alert for a dip in participation, Trump wasn’t about to leave turnout to fate. His press conference in Asheville was packed with promises to rebuild and restore, even making a spectacle of how he’d bulldoze through bureaucratic red tape to help folks get back on their feet. It seems the former president isn’t just running for office; he’s adopting a role as the region’s self-appointed reconstruction czar.
Frankly, some may view him as a glutton for punishment, diving into the political deep end in a crisis while standing on the wreckage of homes and hopes. But his resilient supporters, recovering from shock as they navigate early voting, exemplify the spirit he praised. The absurdity of record early voter turnout amidst the storm’s impact isn’t lost on anyone watching—over a million ballots already cast, and it seems local Republicans are more motivated than ever to ensure they’re heard, regardless of disaster.
At a subsequent rally in Greenville, Trump seized the moment to hammer home the fact that the Biden administration was “spending their money on illegal migrants”—a classic crowd-pleaser that sparked raucous applause among the loyalists present. As Trump assured residents that even if they were displaced, their rights to vote remained intact, the images of those impacted by the storm blended seamlessly into his narrative on ensuring their voices wouldn’t be drowned out by the aftermath.
The take-home message from Trump’s whirlwind tour? “Steer clear of the hurricane’s havoc; just make sure you’re out there tossing your vote into the mix.” For a candidate cursed with being under constant media scrutiny, he transformed the tragedy into a rousing call for action, proving once again that stormy weather doesn’t deter dedicated supporters—especially when their stakes are higher than ever.
