Why Is Trump Holding a Rally at Madison Square Garden?

When former President Donald J.Trump decided to take a day off the battleground campaign trail in the waning days of the race to hold a rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden, it prompted a question from many political observers: Why?New York is hardly a battleground state, and New York City is still a Democratic stronghold.

So how come Mr.Trump is planning an event in Midtown Manhattan in the final two weeks of his presidential campaign?Here are five reasons:He will get to see his name in lights.Mr.

Trump was a performer and reality TV star before he was a political candidate and president.(It is worth recalling that at the Republican National Convention this summer in Milwaukee, Mr.

Trump appeared onstage with a Broadway-style light display spelling out T-R-U-M-P.)For years, Mr.Trump has measured the significance of his rally venues in part by who had appeared there before.

And his yardsticks were usually not other politicians, but singers and other celebrities.“Do you know how many arenas I’ve beaten Elton John’s record?” Mr.Trump once asked Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, as he prepared to hold an event during his presidency at the Fargodome at North Dakota State University.And when he appeared at a rally last month at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, Mr.

Trump noted proudly that Elvis Presley had played there.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....