'Scores of people leave early': Interviews reveal why Trump rallygoers bow out prematurely
Donald Trump consistently draws large and enthusiastic crowds to his rallies, but Kamala Harris was right.
"Scores of people leave early," reported the Washington Post, and while most rallygoers do stay to the end, enduring his rambling diatribes about past elections, his legal woes and various grievances, there's a clear trend at his campaign events.
"Trump often runs late and goes long, prompting many to bow out because of other responsibilities, priorities or, sometimes, waning patience and interest," the Post's reporters found through interviews and observing dozens of events. "Some said they wanted to beat traffic or had work the next day. Others complained about sound quality. One man wanted to go home to his French bulldog. Another needed to get home to his daughter. A third had a Yorkie with him that started acting out. A fourth man said his phone died."
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Harris clearly touched a nerve when she poked Trump over the early departures during their debate last month, saying that attendees leave out of “exhaustion and boredom," and the Republican nominee has frequently brought up the topic during subsequent events, insisting variously that "nobody ever leaves" but making excuses for those who do.
"The former president has told advisers that after people stand for so long and wait for so long, he needs to give them something more than a 'boring policy speech,' one person who has spoken to him said," the Post reported. "The speechwriters craft remarks that are usually designed to go for 60 to 90 minutes, a campaign adviser said, but they know Trump will veer repeatedly off the script."
The Post's reporters attended dozens of Trump events in recent weeks and observed hundreds, if not thousands, of attendees – including Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake – filing out as Trump ranted about World War III, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, the unpopularity of Republican-backed abortion limits and other topics, and many said they were already worn out by the time he got started.
"Anastasia Bennett, 22, quickly grew tired of the insults and was ready to leave," the Post reported. "Bennett was undecided before attending the rally with her aunt, who supports Harris. But after hearing Trump speak, she said she planned to vote for Harris."
"It was the insults and just being an hour late," she told the newspaper.