Donald Trump’s rally in New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden was much more than a campaign event in symbolically hostile territory; it was part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving not only victory but also a resounding national mandate.

At first glance, the decision to hold a high-profile rally in New York — a state Trump has little chance of winning — might seem curious to observers, but it signals the campaign’s confidence.

Tactically, the event in New York City does two things. First, it bolsters Republican House seats in New York won in 2022 due to former Rep. Lee Zeldin’s strong run for governor. Second, because the New York media market extends to Pennsylvania, it nudges the Keystone State further into Trump’s camp.

But Trump is playing a bigger game, seeking to secure both the Electoral College and, for the first time since 2004, a Republican victory in the national popular vote. This dual victory would provide Trump with a mandate strong enough to propel an ambitious second-term agenda and reinforce the Republican position in both the House and Senate.

In today’s turbulent political climate, winning the popular vote has a critical symbolic and practical importance — potentially muting post-election violence from the radical left that some fear.

If Trump not only secures the presidency but also wins over a majority of Americans nationally, he will be uniquely positioned to dispel the manufactured legitimacy concerns designed to drive him from office or, at the very least, hinder........

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