On the night before any election tend to go for broke to drive voters to the polls. Donald Trump west to far as to pitch his possible presidency as a kind of national salvation.
“You have one day to make every dream you ever dreamed for your country and family. You have one magnificent chance to beat this corrupt system.”
And Trump predicted a comeuppance for what he described as the elites in this country,
“Tomorrow, the American working class with strike back. It's about time”
Trump also dropped the names of two prominent New Englanders: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Trump claimed the Patriots quarterback had already voted for him, and read from a letter he said was written by the Patriots coach. The letter described Trump as “the ultimate competitor and fighter.” And called his leadership “amazing.“
“Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, I want to thank you both, and go win a good Super Bowl or whatever you want to do. Boy, what a good combination, never been a better combination, but when you know them personally like I do, they are even better.”
But Trump’s fate in NH, the state where he won his first primary and a place where a win today is likely crucial if he’s to make it to the White House will rest on lesser-known voters. Before he took the stage Trump’s campaign had volunteers phone-banking at the arena.
“Year, we were just in the line and they came and asked us if we wanted to volunteer and make some phone calls, and we said yes.”
Andrea Ryder of Barrington was almost blasé when asked if she was confident Trump will carry New Hampshire and make it to 270 electoral voters he needs to become president.
"Oh yeah, Oh yeah."
Not all Trump supporters are quite that sure.
“It’s going to be laughing or crying, that will be it.”
Ken Sakurai is from in Hampton. He and his son stood in the long line of people waiting to get inside the rally. This was Sakurai’s first time seeing Trump in person but he says he’s absolutely committed to the New York businessman, which he says took him by surprise.
“You know I was fine when Obama got elected. I was optimistic, hoping he would do something and make some change. It's just a big disappointment, that’s all. I want change. I think that’s why we are here.”
Donald Trump’s success will depend on lots of other voters, in NH and across the country feeling the same way.
