Trump holds private fundraiser in Lexington – WKYT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Former President Donald Trump touched down in the Bluegrass just before 5 p.m. Wednesday evening, welcomed in by some supporters en route to a private fundraising dinner in Lexington.
The presumptive GOP nominee’s visit comes less than a week before Kentucky’s primaries and was hosted by Kelly and Joe Craft at an undisclosed location.
“When it comes to mounting a major campaign, like a presidential campaign, the early money is often the most important money,” said Dr. Stephen Voss, an associate professor of political science at UK. “It’s what they use to pull together the teams on which they’re going to rely.”
Trump attended a similar lunch event in Ohio, efforts which come as the former president’s hush money case carries on in New York. Court cannot be held on Wednesdays, so he used the time for fundraising.
Attendees in Lexington had to shell out anywhere between $25,000 and $844,600 a couple for a seat at the table.
From money to public perception, Voss says these stops will be critical to his campaign moving forward.
“The swing voters are also part of the audience, and if all they’re seeing is Donald Trump in legal trouble, that’s not helping him persuade them,” Voss said. “Donald Trump needs these visits, these signs of more traditional campaigning.”
It’s a dinner which may also be meaningful for host Kelly Craft, a former UN ambassador in the Trump Administration.
“For Kelly Craft to bury the hatchet in terms of Donald Trump not endorsing her for governor, it’s a wise decision if she intends to keep a hand in politics,” said Voss.
But this is the type of visit Voss expects we won’t see when the race to become president ramps up.
“As the real election kicks in, the candidates are going to be forced more and more to the battleground states,” Voss said. “If Donald Trump is ever in danger of losing Kentucky, he’s not going to get anywhere near the presidency anyway.”
Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.