Lee Zeldin sends a crucial message to New Yorkers from the swing-state campaign trail

WAUKESHA, Wis.— Lee Zeldin may not be repping the Empire State in Congress anymore, but after zigzagging the country making swing-state stops on the Team Trump Bus Tour, he has a message for New Yorkers: Though they live in a deep-blue state, their votes will truly count this November.

The ex-rep was stumping for former President Donald Trump in heavily Republican Waukesha County when The Post caught up with him last month.“Just like New Yorkers are hoping for Republicans to get out the vote in swing states, the swing states —they’re hoping New Yorkers get out to the polls because the pathway to the majority in the House runs through New York,” Zeldin said.

Of the presidential race in the swing states he’s been visiting?“It’s close,” Zeldin said demurely.“I’m someone who operates like we’re 2 points behind no matter what the polls say.”That’s a wise modus operandi for the Republican who came within 6 points of unseating Gov.

Kathy Hochul in 2022.Since then, Zeldin has rallied around Trump, endorsing the fellow New Yorker early in the primary campaign, despite previously saying he wanted a robust GOP primary.

Zeldin talked strategy in an interview with The Post after his Waukesha speech, which emphasized the country is watching Wisconsin, and the boots on the ground in battleground states should be trained on turning out low-propensity voters.“We don’t want to go back to one-party Democratic rule,” he said.”The Democrats could have control of the House, Senate and White House if voters decide to stay home.”He told The Post that when it comes to issues, Trump has the clear advantage.

“Undecided voters care about the border, the economy and crime.President Trump is on the right side of those issues versus Kamala Harris.” Still, the campaign is reportedly focusing more on attorneys and poll workers and outsourcing its ground game.“Every day the ground game continues to get stronger,” Zeldin insisted.

“There are a lo...