Joe Biden Event Draws 30 People While Trump Packs Out Rally in New Hampshire
'Rivals' both hold 2020 events Thursday night 'just down the road' from each other
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Presidential election "rivals," Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, both threw 2020 events in New Hampshire on Thursday night, and although they were "just down the road" from each other at the same time, they drew very different crowd sizes.
According to a local Massachusetts newspaper, The Eagle-Tribune, Democrat Biden drew a crowd of “about 30 supporters” while Republican Trump packed out an arena for his rally in the same state.
The paper reported that the "handful" of people who attended the former vice president’s campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire displayed "some energy."
“We are here because we are standing up to hate just down the road,” Biden’s New Hampshire organizing director told the group of people that turned up for the event.
“This is our moment, our chance. We need to talk to people now about what [Joe Biden] can do.”
Meanwhile, President Trump smashed the attendance record at Manchester’s Southern New Hampshire University Arena "just down the road" during his rock star-like rally.
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According to Breitbart, Biden, who has retreated from the public eye after several high-profile gaffes consumed his campaign last week, did not attend the event himself.
Despite the candidate not being present, the small crowd did display some energy, according to the Eagle-Tribune, especially when they chanted "Go, Joe! Go, Joe!" in unison.
In comparison, Trump packed in more than 11,500 people for his rally at Manchester’s Southern New Hampshire University Arena on Thursday.
A local fire marshal confirmed to the Daily Mail that the crowd was the biggest on record since Elton John held a concert at the venue in 2004.
Great news! Tonight, we broke the all-time attendance record previously held by Elton John at #SNHUArena in Manchester, New Hampshire! https://t.co/GHvFBkA2KZ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2019
Apart from the those inside the venue, the fire marshal estimated there were at least 8,000-to-9,000 more individuals that watched the rally from outside the arena.
Even before the number was confirmed, though, there were already signs Trump’s appearance in New Hampshire had galvanized widespread excitement.
In the lead up to the rally, Breitbart News reported that vendors selling Trump memorabilia had already set up shop more than 17 miles away from the venue.
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The disparate crowd size between Trump and Biden underscores the predicament facing the former vice president in New Hampshire.
A recent poll out of the state indicates Biden has been dethroned from his frontrunner status by Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT).
The shakeup comes as Biden’s campaign seeks to stabilize after a series of gaffes reignited doubts over whether he is up to the rigors of a modern presidential campaign.
On Thursday, Trump addressed the former vice president’s troubles with the crowd in New Hampshire.
“I don’t know, I think Sleepy Joe may be able to limp across the finish line,” Trump said before citing stories that Biden’s allies were suggesting he cut down on campaign events to limit gaffes.
“[T]hey are going to cut way back on his appearances because he is such a disaster," Trump said to laughter from the crowd.
“Can you believe it? If I ever did that, it would be over.
"The fake news would get us, but we don’t let them get us.”
“Boy, he’s made some beauties, I sort of hope it is him,” the president added.
