President Donald Trump's harsh criticism of the conditions in Democratic-controlled Baltimore could help him broaden his support in the crucial neighboring swing state of Pennsylvania, Republican strategist John Brabender told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
He explained many residents of Baltimore in recent years have fled the poor conditions there and moved to cheaper and less violent places in nearby parts of Pennsylvania while continuing to commute to Baltimore for work.
"I'm guessing that there's a lot of people who do live in some of these areas [in Pennsylvania] that say that what the president is saying is resonating with them," Brabender said.
The latest census figures published in April show the city lost 7,346 people, or 1.2 percent of its population, during the 12 months that ended July 1, 2018, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Neighboring areas have shown increases in population during the same time period.
Brabender said Trump's criticism is also meant to illustrate to African Americans the favorable economy nationwide, while contrasting it with areas where Democrats control and failed to deliver.
Brabender also pointed out Trump's base is not necessarily other Republicans.
"It's really a lot of blue-collar Democrats," he said. "What I find amazing is when [Democrats] accuse the president of being racist, and at the same time accuse him of playing to his base, what they're really doing is accusing a lot of Democrats, particularly blue-collar, what we would've called 'Reagan Democrats,' of being racist."
Another Republican strategist, Alex Conant, however, cautioned Trump's remarks could spur African Americans who stayed home in 2016 to vote against him rather than for him.
"Trump is effectively motivating key parts of his base, but he risks driving up the opposition's turnout too," Conant said.
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