The Note: Trump show upstaged by Beto O'Rourke and congressional realities

[mahatmakanejeeves]

The Note: Trump show upstaged by Beto O’Rourke and congressional realities

“We stand for America, and we stand against walls,” said Beto O’Rourke.

By Rick Klein and MaryAlice ParksFeb 12, 2019 6:01 AM ET

The TAKE with Rick Klein

President Donald Trump marched into El Paso Monday night, ready to go to battle on the border wall and against an emerging foe.

But just moments before Trump took the stage, congressional negotiators cut a deal that cut him out. And the foe whose hometown he was in was leading El Paso as it marched back at an outdoor rally just down the road.
....

The president’s first campaign rally of 2019 offered potential lessons surrounding the realities of 2020. The crowd chanted “Lock her up,” and Trump railed against the “Green New Deal” and a supposed Democratic abortion plan to “execute the baby.” But his was not the only voice of the evening.

Trump mocked O’Rourke as “a young man who’s got very little going for himself,” and said his counter-rally’s attendance “may be the end of his presidential bid.”

Of course, O’Rourke may not run at all. But while Trump tries to choose and define his enemies, he won’t be the only show in town.
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2020 ELECTION
Trump pretended that Congress hadn't just demolished his wall

Analysis: Lawmakers refused to authorize funding to pay for the president's big campaign promise. Then he took the stage in El Paso.

Feb. 12, 2019, 7:25 AM EST / Updated Feb. 12, 2019, 7:29 AM EST
By Jonathan Allen

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump had the perfect script written for the unofficial launch of his re-election campaign in El Paso, Texas.

Back on the trail on Monday night — amid a flurry of Democrats entering the 2020 race and with the backdrop of an iconic border crossing — the president was champing at the bit to the tell the story of an extremist rival party that is hostile to border security and of the wall he would build come hell or high water.

But just before he took the stage, the script flipped.

Back in Washington, Trump learned, Congress had just demolished his wall.
....

[bearsfootball516]

1. Did we ever get hard numbers on attendance for both sides?

I remember seeing Beto's march had something like 15K people, and capacity at Trump's venue was about 7K although there were likely several thousand outside that didn't fit inside.

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. Those figures appear to be authoritative.

What we learn from the El Paso events is that a counter-rally may be an effective tool for Democrats. It spurs more conversation and shows that the Dems have power in the communities as well.

[2naSalit]

3. Here are the numbers...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211810508

[bearsfootball516]

4. That doesn't include Trump's outside crowd though.

The arena he was in only held 6,500 and it's likely several thousand were outside.