More than 2,000 supporters gathered in Asheville to attend former President Trump’s rally, including several Western North Carolina politicians.
Representative Mike Clampitt said he drove over the mountain from Swain County at 10:30 a.m. to get a good spot in the auditorium.
“I had good directions and didn't have a problem finding a parking place,” Clampitt said. “It's exciting to have former president Trump, to-be president Trump, in Western North Carolina.”
Clampitt represents Swain, Jackson and Transylvania Counties and is currently running for re-election against Democrat Mark Burrows of Brevard. He said he was part of the “Trump Train” in 2016 when he was first elected to office .
Clampitt sat with Rep Karl Gillespie who represents Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon Counties. Gillespie will face Democrat Nancy Curtis in November.
“I think it says something about Western North Carolina. The fact that Trump would come here, with the size of this venue, being packed out,” Gillespie said. “I think that makes a statement about how important Western North Carolina is and him becoming the next president of the United States of America.”
Trump’s campaign paid about $82,000 to the City of Asheville to rent the Thomas Wolfe auditorium, BPR reported. The auditorium is the smaller of the complex’s two venues, with a maximum seating capacity of 2,431. The auditorium was full for the event, but about a third of the upper section was taken up by local, regional and national press.
The event was not a rally, Trump said, but an “intellectual speech” about the economy.
Clampitt explained that housing is one of the biggest economic issues across the country and in Western North Carolina.
“We had a meeting earlier this month in Highlands area about a housing issue up there that the hospital is unable to maintain an employee base because the local housing is out of the reach of those employees' salaries,” Clampitt said. “So we've got to get a handle on that and figure out some ways of thinking out of the box to get more innovative housing and more cost effective housing.”
Representative Mark Pless, who is also running for re-election in district 118 representing Haywood and Madison Counties, was at the event with his one-year-old granddaughter Alice.
“A lot of times people in Western North Carolina feel like they're left out and it means a lot to a lot of the supporters for him to be up here and for them to be able to hear directly from him,” Pless said.
Pless said the cost of groceries is the first thing that needs to be addressed.
“It's just going to take a concerted effort on the government's part to make that happen. And I think he's the one that's willing to do that,” Pless said.
Federal politicians also celebrated Trump’s appearance. During the opening ceremonies, Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents the 11th North Carolina district for U.S. Congress, took the stage to welcome Trump to the state and tout his economic policies.
“I’m ready to go back to a president who is a businessman who knows how to restart our economy,” Edwards said.
U.S. Senator Ted Budd followed Edwards, repeating his call for Trump's return to the White House.
“Is this Trump country? YES!" Budd said. “Do you know why we support Donald J. Trump? Because we were better off when he was in the White House.”
Budd criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and the Inflation Act.
“That might work in San Francisco but that won’t work in Western North Carolina!” he said.
On the morning of the rally, Democrats gathered across town to offer opposing perspectives.
Mobilizing the base
Inside the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, there was high energy from the crowd throughout the afternoon. Brandon Jones of Maggie Valley also traveled from Haywood County to support Trump. Jones said this was his first rally.
“We’ve always supported Trump,” Jones said. “It’s cool, I was really expecting a different turnout. But the energy out here is great. It’s like being at a big show. It’s awesome.”
Attendees stood in line at the concession stand to buy snacks like chicken tenders and popcorn while waiting for the Trump event to start.
Joshua Pressley of Asheville told BPR that it meant a lot for Trump to come out to Western North Carolina.
It means the world. He’s a good dude,” Pressley said. “I think he’s our last hope to saving what nation we have left.”
Lucille Cobble of Fairview and Barbara Roberson of Candler echoed Pressley’s sentiments.
“To me President Trump is the only one who can straighten this country out,” Cobble said. Roberson and Cobble agreed that the border and the economy are the two biggest issues.
Carlos Jaimes Garcia of Arden identified as an unaffiliated voter. He said he was at the rally to hear about Trump policies.
“I’m trying to see what is out there and what points he is going to bring. I just want change. That’s what we are here for,” Jaimes Garcia said. “I’m 21, so I’m pretty new to the whole politician stuff but I would like to get into it. I think it’s very important to listen to what the candidates have to say and try to make the world a better place.”
As an unaffiliated voter, Jaimes Garcia is in the majority in North Carolina and in the region. Political expert and Western Carolina University professor Chris Cooper said these unaffiliated voters are critical to both campaigns.
In a conversation with BPR before the rally, Cooper said rallies are designed to mobilize the base, not to persuade undecided voters.
“ People came out to this rally either because they support Trump or because they are anti-Trump. They are not moveable voters. They are not persuadable voter,” Cooper said.
“What these rallies do, in Trump’s ideal world, is they mobilize voters. They get people off the couch. They get people to donate money. They get people to put signs up. They get people to get their friends to vote,” he said. “Trump is a mobilization candidate, not a persuasion candidate.”
