President Holds Raucous Rally At Convention Center

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Donald Trump rallied supporters in the battleground state of Nevada on the eve of the state’s caucuses, looking to exploit Democratic divisions as he focuses on his reelection fight.

While speaking to the crowd, President Trump makes sure he properly pronounces the state of Nevada. He jokingly tells the crowd, "you've got to make sure you say it right because if you don't you're going to have trouble." #8NN #YLEH pic.twitter.com/q7x0aI3O5b

— 8 News NOW (@8NewsNow) February 21, 2020

People are outside of @LVCVA #Convention #Center after hearing @Mike_Pence speak & are now waiting to hear @realDonaldTrump speak. @8NewsNow #8NN pic.twitter.com/UKbKxxIL3P

— Chad Graves (@ChadGravesNews) February 21, 2020

Speaking to thousands of fans Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Trump also rejected a fresh intelligence community assessment that Russia was seeking to interfere in the 2020 race just as it did in 2016 on Trump’s behalf.

“Here we go again,” Trump said, as the crowd booed. “Aren’t people bored?” 

The president speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prefer Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as president. “Wouldn’t he rather have say, Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow?” Trump said.

Ahead of the Nevada voting, Trump taunted the Democrats for their management of the voting process, pointing to Iowa, where a tally of the caucus votes ended in chaos earlier this month.

“I hear their computers are all messed up just like in Iowa,” Trump said of Nevada’s Democrats. “They can’t count votes.”

Nevada scrapped its Republican caucuses last year, as is common when an incumbent is in the White House. It allows Trump to consolidate his support as the Democratic field remains bitterly divided. The state GOP will formally bind its delegates to Trump on Saturday. 

Trump was closing out a four-day, four-state political tour through the West that saw him hold three campaign rallies, a pair of high-dollar fundraisers and promote policies that benefited many of his supporters. 

"We're winning all over. We're winning in Washington! The Democrats are losing their minds. That is why Democrat voters are registering with the Republican party," President Trump said. "The Republican party has never been more united." #8NN #YLEH #PoliticsNOW pic.twitter.com/Wy8Gpums8u

— 8 News NOW (@8NewsNow) February 21, 2020

Feeling his reelection odds rising after his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial and his campaign’s record fundraising, Trump seized on the deep divisions and personal tiffs on display in this week’s Democratic debate. 

Trump was still regaling his audiences with his critical assessments of the Democratic debate field, including former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, whom he’s branded “mini Mike.”

"For the amount of money Democrats want to spend supporting illegal immigrants, we could rebuild every city." #8NN #YLEH #PoliticsNOW pic.twitter.com/MCQaUKFPpa

— 8 News NOW (@8NewsNow) February 21, 2020

“We are going to win Nevada in a big, beautiful landslide,” Trump predicted. 

Trump called up to the stage members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union’s team in Lake Placid 40 years ago. Most were wearing Trump’s signature red campaign hats.

"Thank you, President Trump," Trump said as he talked about the Olympics coming back to LA. He also recognized #TeamUSA who won the 1980 Olympic Hockey game against the Soviet Union. The team was flown into#Vegas by the @GoldenKnights for the 40th anniversary of the #MiracleOnIce pic.twitter.com/B6p6SfcyB7

— 8 News NOW (@8NewsNow) February 21, 2020