Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to hold an outdoor rally in scorching Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, aiming to bolster support in a swing state where polls indicate a tilt in his favor for the Nov. 5 election. This rally marks Trump’s first large-scale gathering since a New York jury convicted him on May 30 of falsifying documents related to a payment to a porn star just before the 2016 election, making him the first former president found guilty of a crime.
During a town hall event in Arizona on Thursday, Trump discussed plans to address illegal immigration and attributed issues at the southern border to his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden. His Las Vegas speech will also focus on immigration and criticize the post-pandemic surge in inflation under Biden’s administration, according to a campaign statement.
However, attendees should brace themselves for blistering heat, with temperatures expected to reach 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) when Trump begins speaking at noon local time, climbing to 102 degrees by 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The Trump campaign has urged attendees to dress appropriately, stay hydrated, and assured the provision of water bottles, misting stations, cooling stations, and on-site medical staff.
Nevada is a critical swing state in the upcoming election, with polls suggesting Trump holds a lead over Biden. However, political experts like Rebecca Gill from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas caution that polling might not accurately reflect voter sentiment months ahead of the election, particularly given the lack of attention from many voters at this stage.
Gill also believes that Trump’s criminal conviction may not have fully resonated with voters yet and could dissuade some moderate Republicans from supporting him.
Additionally, a proposed amendment concerning abortion access on the state ballot could influence Democratic turnout.
“I think that (Nevada) is 100% still in play,” Gill said.
Sunday’s rally comes on the heels of a three-day fundraising push by Trump that included stops in San Francisco and Beverly Hills, where he raised millions of dollars from technology executives and other donors.
