Something Mighty Is Brewing [OPINION]

I joined some very enthusiastic supporters of President Donald J. Trump's re-election for a standout in Fairhaven on Monday afternoon. Between 80-100 dedicated Trumpers waved signs, cheered, laughed, and had an all-around good time eliciting honks from passing motorists. And there were plenty of honks. A few birdies too, but hey, it goes with the territory.

I went because I wanted to see for myself what the excitement is all about. I'd read and heard about rallies drawing hundreds of people out to Dartmouth and Westport and elsewhere in Massachusetts on weekdays and Sunday mornings. It seemed it had to be an exaggeration – but it's not. People in bluer-than-blue Massachusetts are turning out for Trump, and in big numbers, too.

I don't know what this means because, on paper, Democrat nominee Joe Biden should win Massachusetts. But there is something brewing here. If Trump doesn't win the state outright, he will do well, and that could bode well for the future of Massachusetts, which has been dominated by Democrat rule forever.

What struck me as much as the enthusiasm of the participants was the response of the people passing by. It was mostly positive. There was the one young woman who was hanging out her window as she sped by while flipping us off. I get it, politics is an emotional sport.

Some of the earlier standouts attracted small counter protests. There was none of that yesterday in Fairhaven. Maybe they've given up.

What also strikes me is that I have never seen a Biden standout. Never. Not even a small group of people on a street corner. Why is that? We hear about polls that suggest Trump's supporters are more enthusiastic than are Biden's. Perhaps there is something to that. It also makes me wonder if the core of Biden's support is more anti-Trump than pro-Biden.

The Fairhaven standout is each Monday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Route 6, just east of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. Others are held around the area on the weekends. I announce them when I am aware of them, so stay tuned. I found it to be a fun and rewarding experience. If you are a fan or perhaps still on the fence, stop by and check it out.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.