Trump hopes in Pennsylvania ride on painting rural areas a deeper shade of red

Vice President Mike Pence had a simple message for supporters when he stopped at a campaign office in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. “The road to victory goes straight through Pennsylvania,” he said.

He could have been more specific. It runs through towns such as Murrysville in Westmoreland County, outside Pittsburgh, where, in 2016, voters plumped for candidate Trump by a margin of almost 2 to 1. 

This time around, President Trump, his family, and his vice president are peppering the area with appearances in an effort to maintain enthusiasm and ensure the sort of turnout that could help them hold on to Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral college votes.

Last week, Trump addressed hundreds of supporters in a hangar at a nearby airport. He returns on Friday to neighboring Somerset County to mark the anniversary of 9/11 at the national memorial to Flight 93 at Shanksville.