7 reasons Donald Trump’s rally in Tampa will suck
Will the 'Trump Bump' be a factor in the Aug. 28 primary?

donald-trump-feature

The Trump Show is coming to Tampa, and it couldn’t be a worse day for The Big Guava. 

The President will ostensibly be at the fairgrounds to boost his favored candidate for Florida governor, Rep. Ron DeSantis. 

But mostly, if experience is any guide, he’s going to talk about himself.

The Donald will no doubt relish his opportunity to vent his spleen unfiltered in front of an adoring crowd of acolytes.

But is it good for his party? Nope, critics say. 

In fact, “all of this is bad for the Republican Party,” former Republican Congressman David Jolly told the Tampa Bay Times, warning of “a swift and hard correction come November.”

“We recognize that a wipeout of congressional candidates and gubernatorial candidates like DeSantis might be an inflection point to say this has gone too far and we can no longer be a party with a governing majority that represents the broader diversity of this country.”

That may be, but for now, here are the Top 7 reasons why Trump’s rally will suck.

The Location — If you’ve been smart all of your life and avoided the Florida State Fairgrounds, you won’t regret your decision if you decide to skip Tuesday’s rally. The Fairgrounds is, to use the appropriate vernacular, a swamp. The actual rally will take place in the Expo Hall, but you’ll still have to park and walk through what basically resembles the infield of a monster truck rally.

The Location, Part 2 — The Fairgrounds shouldn’t even be associated with Tampa Bay. It’s in Tampa, yes, but barely. It’s really in Seffner or Thonotosassa or some other place in the sticks where Cousin Eddie retired to. Undoubtedly, the locals will be out in force tomorrow night, chanting “Lock her up” and threatening the caged-in press corps.

The Traffic — It’s not impossible to get to the Fairgrounds, especially if you’re coming from I-75, but if you overnighted anywhere to the west of that and are driving to the event along I-4, you’re in for the kind of snarling traffic that will is the automotive equivalent of a Chinese finger puzzle.

The Weather — It feels as if has been raining every day since July 4. And when it’s not raining, it’s uncomfortably hot and humid. The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay described the recent weather pattern best in a tweet Sunday morning: “If someone randomly showed up with this satellite image and told me to guess what month it was from … July would not be my first guess. It wouldn’t be my second or third guess either.” The forecast calls for late afternoon showers — right about when folks will be in line to see POTUS.

The Message — By campaigning in Florida just as early ballots arrive in mailboxes, Trump is, again, setting a bad precedent. He keeps breaking the unspoken rule that sitting presidents don’t pit primary opponents in their own party against each other.

The Sh*tshow — Even Jeff Greene said he’ll attend the protest planned for Trump’s appearance at the fairgrounds. Look for other protests to break out.

The Blowback — The bottom line is that Trump is fanning the base at expense of the general election. He’s giving undecideds who don’t like him a reason to vote against DeSantis.

If there is any upside to Trump rallying tonight in Tampa, it’s that he’ll be doing so across the street from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Do yourself a favor and enjoy one of the best steaks you’ll have anywhere at its Council Oak. Then hit the blackjack tables and enjoy the show via Twitter.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.


13 comments

  • Artwork

    July 31, 2018 at 8:44 am

    What a stupid article. Let me guess…you are a Trump hater…? Yes. Mind control BS. This is why people hate the media. This is why Trump’s attacks on the media are understood and cheered by so many. A better article would have been “The 7 things I hate about Trump. “ This is garbage.

    By the way, there will be thousands of people there who will deal with location and traffic and other issues in spite of your ridiculous whining.

    • Linda

      July 31, 2018 at 9:06 am

      Ah, a trumper. Talk about mind control? Trumpers are brainwashed! Follow like sheep, bahhhh, bahhhh!

      • Joe

        July 31, 2018 at 11:38 am

        Maybe, but that’s sometimes all it takes. In the end, DeSantis will win the election and the Democrat will not.

    • Joe

      July 31, 2018 at 11:36 am

      I agree. All of the bullet points he wrote will all be overcome/ignored/managed by supporters and, frankly, they don’t care about any of it. Nothing in the article means anything if, in the end, DeSantis wins.

    • Mary Lauster

      July 31, 2018 at 10:52 pm

      I’m happy to say you were so wrong on all the points .. I went to the rally it was no worse then going to a rock concert. Matter of fact, it ran pretty smooth. No rain to speak of, a few sprinkles to cool the crowd. Finding a parking place & leaving went smoothly. President Trump had the crowd cheering for US Steel building 7 new factories & one is in Florida.
      So, Pete .. you need to start reporting the truth & not just your negative views. Or, better yet, get a different vocation.

  • Nicole

    July 31, 2018 at 9:28 am

    Hey Debbie downer, these are Trump supporters attending to rally not snowflakes and it’s gunna be HUGE. 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

  • Dylan

    July 31, 2018 at 11:39 am

    I wonder if he’ll be able to fill out the grounds. Something he’s failed to do in his recent rallies! Very Sad! The people of Florida has learned there lesson and are ready to vote against radical republicans. Trump should stick to rallies in Pensacola where the rednecks love him!

    • meh

      July 31, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      10.5k capacity. 14k tickets confirmed.

  • Rudy Qualls

    July 31, 2018 at 11:59 am

    More Fake News Outlet! You just don’t get it: Ameria wants Constitutional government with swamp creatures and lobbists forbidden. No illegal immigration even if it means dramatic push-back or lethal force, no means no. WE want politicians removed from Congressional committees to allow the people to be heard not Globalists, Elitists or Socialists. We want return to America first, We want Religious freedom for all but no demeaning the Christian values under whihc this Country was founded. We want freedom to carry guns without permission fro government and acknowledgement that the citizenry has a right to overthrow an oppressive agenda non Constitutional biased approach by either Party to subvert the Constitution. We want Hillary Clinton in prison and her Deep State Croonies hung for treason.

  • Q

    July 31, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    88% Approval Rating from Republicans and you’re the spokesman as to what’s “bad for the party?” LOL – Try another job, journalism isn’t your forte.

  • Native Siminole

    July 31, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    Very interesting but it’s all a show. I’m all about making America great again…like the time when Africans and natives lived in peace with each other and nature before Europeans “discovered” these lands and this fake democracy was established.

  • Joe

    July 31, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    Well, how did that work for ya Peter? Dumb as shit.

  • voncile

    August 3, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    OMGosh. This turned out to be a nothing burger. Never underestimate our President Trump, but give this dude a tad bit of credit, he HAS figured out a way to get his Bull crap read, kinda like CNN. Without Trump, CNN would be off the airways by now.

    …and by the way….. this site needs a ‘like’ button!

Comments are closed.


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