OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Arizona Police Association President Justin Harris got a curtain call during a speech as attendees started chanting for former President Donald Trump to speak instead.
Guest speakers often speak at Trump events and are usually the first ones that people hear before the main event. But sometimes, a person will come on stage with Trump. At Trump’s rally in Glendale, Arizona, Harris took the stage to make an important statement while Trump stood right behind him the whole time.
In his introduction of Harris, Trump joked that his last name was the same as his opponent’s and said, “I will always back our law enforcement heroes in blue.” Trump often calls the people who were arrested on January 6 “patriots” and “hostages.”
Harris spent about 11 minutes making his case before his group backed him. People in the room were getting antsy and making noise, so Trump told Harris to hurry up: “Gotta go!” Need to go!”
While the crowd yelled for Trump, Harris said he was almost done before speaking for two more minutes before handing the stage to Trump:
DONALD TRUMP: I will always back our law enforcement heroes in blue! We are pleased to be joined tonight by the president of the Arizona Police Association, Justin Harris. Oh, no, he’s not a relation. Justin, you a relation? Last name is Harris spelled the same. I’m very concerned about this. I’m not really, but Justin Harris is a great gentleman who has a special announcement. Justin, would you please come up? Thank you. It’s just — I’m not worried about it.
JUSTIN HARRIS: Well, good evening everyone. I’m a little concerned about that illegal immigration chart you put out there. Yeah. Was that a spike in immigration or the inflation? Sort of both. Right? Illegal drugs are flowing into this country at an alarming rate, with only 5% being intercepted at the border.
DONALD TRUMP: Gotta go! Gotta go!
CROWD: We love you Trump! TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!
JUSTIN HARRIS: Let me finish up here, please. This country, our family, our communities, and everything that each of us holds dear and near to our hearts cannot endure another four years of a clueless president who cares more about the color of our curtains than the safety and prosperity of our great country, its people.
It is clear who supports law enforcement, law and order, and that’s President Trump.
…
On track and making America great again. Vote Donald J. Trump for president. And this is why the Arizona Police Association and our 12,000 members, family and friends, are proud to extend our endorsement to Donald J. Trump for president of the United States of America. Thank you. God bless.
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. Wow, that’s a great endorsement. Means a lot.
WATCH:
‘Gotta Go! Gotta Go!’ Trump Rushes Cop Speech As Fans At Rally Get Restless — Chant For ‘Trump!’ https://t.co/FmAoEZQwNl via @mediaite pic.twitter.com/QSB788jDVH
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) August 27, 2024
This comes as Trump notched the biggest lead yet over Vice President Kamala Harris in a key election metric many use to determine the eventual winner.
One week after the former president gained a fresh lead over Harris, new bets are propelling him to heights among those forecasting victories in several critical swing states on November 5th.
Notably, in Arizona, analysts predict a Trump win by a substantial 68-32% margin; in Georgia, he holds a similar 64-36% lead; and in North Carolina—a state embroiled in a growing FEMA disaster relief controversy—Trump currently leads Harris 63-37%.
Compounding Harris’s challenges is the belief among bettors that the “blue wall” will not hold in Michigan and Wisconsin. Trump is projected to win in those states by narrower margins of 54-46% and 52-48%, respectively.
However, in the must-win state of Pennsylvania, Trump holds a 10-point lead over Harris, with a forecast of 55-45% among those placing bets. The only state still leaning in favor of Harris is Nevada, albeit narrowly, as she holds a 51-49% lead among bettors. Yet even there, recent polling indicates that Trump is ahead by as much as 5%.
Overall, nearly 66 percent of bettors are now forecasting a Trump victory in November, marking the largest lead he has maintained since Harris launched her campaign in August. At the peak of his lead over President Joe Biden, nearly three in four bettors believed his victory was inevitable.
Latest Election Odds
🟥 Trump • 65.8% chance (+4.5%)
🟦 Harris • 34.2% chance (-4.6%)10 days until the election. pic.twitter.com/HwrMKjeKUh
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) October 25, 2024