With former President Donald Trump set to return to New Jersey this weekend — and declaring he even intends to win the blue-leaning state in what would be a massive upset this fall — Democrats launched a preemptive strike against the Republican on Friday.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., joined President Joe Biden’s campaign for a press call to push back against Trump a day before he is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally in Wildwood.
“I suspect when Trump holds that rally in Wildwood, you will see a lot of people coming from outside our state,” Sherrill said. “Here inside our state, we know that Trump filed for bankruptcy five times, that he really undermined the economic viability of Atlantic City, that he didn’t pay workers, he didn’t pay contractors, he had small businesses going out of business because of his failed promises.”
Trump, a longtime New York real estate developer, owned up to three gambling halls in Atlantic City — about 45 miles north of Wildwood — between the 1980s and 2010s. It was a period that helped Trump raise his national profile and helped the city gain attention, but his casino companies filed for bankruptcy five times, and contractors accused him of not paying them for their work.
Sherrill, a likely Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor next year, is also spearheading a series of events across the state Saturday to counteract Trump’s visit — which she has dubbed “Stand Up to Trump: New Jersey Day of Action.”
Trump is returning to Wildwood four years after he held a rally there in 2020, 10 months before he lost the White House to Biden. Now, Trump and Biden — the presumptive Republican and Democratic nominees, respectively — are squaring off in a rematch for the presidency.
Earlier Friday, Trump called into host Bill Spadea’s morning radio show on New Jersey 101.5, during which the former president touted a lofty goal: carrying the Garden State in November’s election.
A Republican presidential candidate hasn‘t done that since George H. W. Bush in 1988 — 36 years ago.
“We’re gonna try to win the state of New Jersey,” said Trump, who also owns three golf courses in the state, spending many summers at the one in Bedminster.
“I want the people to know that. It’s not just gonna be, ‘Gee, maybe we can get close.’ We’re gonna win it.”
The prediction piggybacks off comments Trump made in January saying he will make a “heavy play” to flip Democratic states such as New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Virginia.
That’s even though Trump lost New Jersey to Biden by 16 percentage points in 2020 to Democrat Hillary Clinton by 14 points in 2016.
Arecent poll from Emerson College, though, showed Biden leading Trump here only by 7 percentage points and by only 5 when third party candidates are added.
Trump said during Friday’s interview that people in America are “just disgusted” by how the Biden administration has handled not only the economy but the Southern border, the war in Afghanistan, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
But on Friday’s press call, Sherrill shot down the idea that Trump can take New Jersey.
“I don’t think he’s going to find much welcome here in the Garden State,” the congresswoman said.
Michael Tyler, communication director for Biden’s campaign, agreed.
“I think here on Planet Earth in the Biden campaign, we’re going to remain laser-focused on winning 270 electoral votes,” Tyler said.
Sherrill said the contrast between Trump and Biden is “felt so deeply here in New Jersey,” noting how plans for the Gateway rail tunnel between the state and Manhattan have accelerated in recent years. She and Tyler also hit Trump over his jobs record.
The U.S. lost a net 2.7 million jobs during Trump’s time in the Oval Office, making him the first president to oversee a net loss of jobs since Herbert Hoover, who was president the start of the Great Depression. The drop during Trump’s time came amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Under Biden, U.S. employment is 10% above where it was when he took office. The country has also grappled with high inflation during that time.
“Trump’s shtick might have worked when he ran for president the first time, but he’s got a record now,” Tyler said. “A record of selling out the middle class, breaking promises, and lying to the American people.”
Sherrill also said Trump has been “dangerous” to women, including by appointing justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who overturned Roe v. Wade.
“We’re pretty excited to continue to build on the opportunities (Biden has) created and to build on that here in Jersey,” Sherrill said. “So I think it’s critically important that we make sure here in New Jersey, people are aware of what’s at stake in 2024, and how important this election is.”
Meanwhile, Trump said he expects a big audience in Wildwood, a famous part of the Jersey Shore, where support for him is more common than in other parts of the state.
“It’s gonna be a beautiful crowd,” Trump said during his radio appearance. “I’m hearing numbers that are crazy.”
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano has estimated the rally could draw between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Many people were already in line Friday as the city prepared for Saturday‘s event.
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.
