Why Trump’s Des Moines rally should make Democrats nervous

DES MOINES, Iowa — I arrived at Drake University’s Knapp Center hours in advance with the intention of covering President Trump’s Thursday night rally, but, along with dozens of other credentialed media, was denied entry — which the Trump campaign said was an order from the fire marshal, because the venue built to accommodate around 7,200 people was at capacity.

Rather than leave, I decided to venture into the crowd of hundreds of Trump supporters (or perhaps over a thousand) who had gathered outside in the 30-degree weather to watch Trump’s speech on a jumbo television screen.

It is quite common for political campaigns to book venues that are much smaller than they can fill — after all, better to have news reports of standing room only auditoriums and long lines than book a massive arena that can comfortably fit all attendees, but at the risk of images of empty seats.

Nonetheless, the fact that Trump was able to draw such a devoted crowd — with some people even camping overnight to be guaranteed entry, and others willing to stand out in sub-freezing temperatures to watch a speech on a video screen just to get a taste of the experience, does say something. It speaks to a certain intensity level that makes Trump’s reelection more likely than most presidents entering an election year with approval ratings hovering around 45%.

Many of the characteristics of a Trump rally have remained the same since 2016 — the sea of red MAGA hats, shouting down of protesters with chants of “USA! USA! USA!” and lots of laughter at Trump’s mockery of his political enemies. The crowd often knows which lines Trump is about to rattle off, but revels in them anyway, almost as if attending a concert and waiting for a musician to play his greatest hits.

But one thing struck me. Whether they backed him in 2016 or were more recent converts, one factor that his supporters kept bringing up was their feeling that he had delivered on his promises in a way other elected officials have not.

“I wasn’t [a Trump supporter] in 2016,” said Adam Hanson, a Des Moines-based attorney who spoke for Rand Paul in the caucuses four years ago. “I was one of those Never Trump Republicans back then … During the caucuses and even into the general election, I just, I was not a big fan. I didn’t think he’d deliver. But in the past few years, I’ll admit I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Trump.”

Hanson said he saw Trump as a bit of a “grifter” in 2016 but has been enthused by his judicial appointments and the performance of the economy.

He added, “I’ll admit I was wrong. And if I had to do it over again, I would have voted for the president then.”

In 2016, Trump was boosted by the intensity of his core supporters. But he also faced many skeptics among conservatives who feared that the longtime Democratic donor who had espoused many liberal policies over the decades, would revert to form once in office, eager to negotiate with Chuck Schumer to show his prowess as a deal-maker. Yet in practice, Trump has followed through, or at least attempted to, on a spectrum of issues of importance to conservatives.

“I think he’s done an excellent job, and he’s done what he told the American people he was going to do,” said Trent Kerr of Oskaloosa, who was a Trump supporter in 2016. “And so he’s the first politician or first person who has come into office and promised us things and actually delivered on his promises.”

Another Trump supporter, Deborah Coburn, similarly said, “He is the only president since I’ve been alive who actually does what he said he was going to do.” She specifically highlighted his pro-life actions and protection of religious liberty.

“I am way more for him in 2020,” she said.

Coburn conceded, “Donald Trump can maybe be a bit crude and has been in what he says, but I actually appreciate that he’s not a typical politician.” Crude talk, she said, has no bearing on whether somebody “does or does not get things done.”

Ryan Chapman of Indianola actually voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but he was at the Trump rally in a MAGA hat. Last time, he thought both nominees were “toxic” but decided to give Clinton a chance because of her experience. “Then my mind was changed by how they attack [Trump] and how they belittle him in every decision he does. I have not seen this much smear in a president ever … I’ve never seen so much hatred towards a president.” Chapman also praised Trump’s handling of the economy.

It is true that right now Democrats are in a divisive primary and have plenty of time to unite behind an eventual nominee. Sen. Bernie Sanders certainly has a passionate following of his own.

But Trump has something going for him in 2020 that he didn’t have in 2016. And that’s a list of conservative policy gains, as well as economic metrics, that, to his boosters, make supporting him no longer a leap of faith.