Former President Trump at a Friday event hosted by the conservative Christian organization Turning Point Action urged Christians to vote, saying they wouldn’t have to do it again if they took to the polls in November and elected him because “everything” would be “fixed.”
“Christians, get out and vote, just this time,” Trump exclaimed to a cheering crowd in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine, you won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians,” he added.
“I love you Christians. I’m a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks point to the need for both parties to get their most fervent supporters to the polls in what is expected to be a close election that may be determined by turnout.
The remarks were also criticized on the left, where many raised questions about what steps Trump might take to affect the electoral process if he wins a second term. Democrats have made the protection of democracy a big part of their campaign effort after the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat.
The presidential race has rapidly changed with Vice President Harris’s sudden arrival as the likely Democratic presidential nominee. President Biden bowed to mounting pressure and dropped out of the race last week, endorsing Harris.
Since then, Democrats have rallied around the vice president, and there have been signs of surging enthusiasm for her candidacy. Harris, 59, is more than two decades younger than Biden and quickly negates what had been the main line of attack for the GOP against the Biden ticket.
Trump, 78, has also seen the GOP unify around his candidacy, particularly since a failed assassination attempt at one of his rallies on July 13. The shocking episode ended with Trump putting a defiant fist in the air and urging his supporters to fight as blood streaked his face from his ear.
Before the last two weeks, the Trump-Biden race had been epitomized by a lack of enthusiasm surrounding it, with some speculating voter turnout could be lower than previous elections.
It is too early to know if turnout will now increase, but a New York Times/Siena College poll this week found increasing support and enthusiasm for both Harris and Trump. It suggested the number of so-called double haters who dislike both candidates is rapidly shrinking.
Trump looked like a heavy favorite against Biden, but polls released since the president’s exit suggest a tightening race.
Polling released Friday from Fox News showed Harris tied with Trump in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and Harris behind Trump by 1 point in Wisconsin.
A key development to watch will be whether Harris and Trump end up competing in a debate in the next few months.
Harris first has the Democratic National Convention in her sights, where she is almost certainly going to become the Democratic nominee after already locking up support from more than enough delegates to clinch the nomination. No opponents for the nomination have emerged as the party looks to rally around her.
Trump was supposed to hold a second debate against Biden in September, but it is unclear whether he will stick to those plans with Harris. Since her entrance, Trump has argued the debate should be moved from ABC to Fox News.
The first debate between Trump and Biden dramatically altered the race by underscoring worries about Biden’s age as he stumbled through the performance.
This story was updated at 1:02 p.m.