Trump claims he has Michigan lead ahead of final rally

Donald Trump claimed Monday night that he is leading in the traditionally blue state of Michigan, ahead of the final rally of the GOP presidential nominee’s campaign.

{mosads}At a rally in Scranton, Pa., Trump knocked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for making last-minute stops in Michigan in the final stretch of the race and said he’s been talking about the concerns of the auto industry for years.

He also trumpeted his lead in the state, though Clinton leads every poll with the exception of one released Monday by the Trafalgar Group that showed the real estate mogul narrowly ahead, by 2 points. Clinton leads four other November polls from the state by 4 points or more and had a 3.6-point lead in the RealClearPolitics state average.

“I started telling and talking about [how] your car business is being stolen from you,” Trump said Monday night in Scranton. “I’ve been saying it for year and years and years and Michigan now agrees. We’re leading in Michigan.” 

“And when I heard that crooked Hillary is going there tonight, she had to,” he continued. “When I heard, I figured I have nothing to do tonight so I’ll go there tonight and give it the last word.” 

Trump will hold his final rally of the campaign in Grand Rapids, Mich., at 11 p.m. Monday with running mate Mike Pence. 

Clinton added last-minute stops Sunday and Monday in Michigan to protect her firewall in a state that Democrats have carried in the past six presidential elections. 

Trump has made several campaign stops in Michigan during the final stretch of the race. He has argued that he can put Michigan in play, hoping his populist, anti-trade deal message will resonate with voters there and in other Rust Belt states. 

At a rally over the weekend, Trump argued that Clinton is “wasting her time” making appearances in the state in the final days of the race.

“Michigan was never really in play for a Republican. But you know what? It’s in play for us because all of their cars are being made now in Mexico,” Trump said at a Denver rally late Saturday.

During her visit to Grand Rapids, Mich., earlier Monday, Clinton touted her commitment to American manufacturing as she sought to draw contrasts with Trump to counter his late push there. 

“He’s gone all over this country and he’s gone all over Michigan talking about how he’s going to really get more jobs and he’s going to bring back what used to be there,” Clinton said. 

“Well I’ll tell you what, look at his record, don’t just listen to his rhetoric. Because I have a different idea: We’re going to invest in America again.”