Trump makes play for blue-leaning state as he briefly detours from the battlegrounds

It's been 2 decades since a Republican carried New Mexico successful a statesmanlike election. 

You've sewage to spell backmost to President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election.

But former President Trump, making a little detour from campaigning successful nan 7 important battleground states that will apt find whether he aliases Vice President Kamala becomes nan adjacent president, parachuted into nan one-time plaything authorities that now leans blue.

"Look, I'm only present for 1 reason," Trump told supporters Thursday astatine a rally successful Albuquerque, nan state's largest city. 

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2024 ELECTION

Former President Trump, nan Republican statesmanlike nominee, arrives astatine a run rally astatine Albuquerque International Sunport Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, successful Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

"They said, ‘Oh, a Republican can’t triumph that state.’ They opportunity a Republican can’t win. But you cognize what? We’re going to triumph it," nan erstwhile president optimistically predicted.

Trump besides said his extremity successful New Mexico was bully for his "credentials" pinch Hispanic voters. 

WHAT THE MOST RECENT FOX NEWS POLLS SHOW IN THE HARRIS-TRUMP SHOWDOWN

"I’m present for 1 elemental reason. I for illustration you very much, and it’s bully for my credentials pinch nan Hispanic aliases Latino community," he argued.

The erstwhile president is facing backlash from immoderate Latino voters aft a comedian speaking astatine his ample rally successful New York City Sunday called Puerto Rico a "floating land of garbage."

There hasn't been an abundance of polling successful New Mexico, but astir caller surveys bespeak nan vice president pinch an precocious single-digit lead complete nan erstwhile president. Although 1 study suggested a tighter title for nan state's 5 electoral votes.

Former President Trump, nan Republican statesmanlike nominee, arrives astatine a run rally astatine Albuquerque International Sunport Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, successful Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

With clip specified a precious commodity for statesmanlike campaigns and nan timepiece quickly ticking toward Election Day, New Mexico Democrats said Trump's travel to nan authorities — his first successful 5 years — is simply a fool's errand.

"Trump is wasting his clip coming to our authorities arsenic polling shows New Mexicans are group to cull his MAGA extremism and divisive rhetoric yet again," Democratic Party of New Mexico spokesperson Daniel Garcia claimed successful a connection up of nan erstwhile president's trip.

Referring to nan Oct. 31 extremity successful Albuquerque by nan erstwhile president, Garcia took a verbal changeable astatine Trump, saying "a rotund orangish wide will beryllium successful Albuquerque connected Halloween, and we’re not talking astir a pumpkin."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump urged his supporters to get retired and vote, saying, "New Mexico. Look, don't make maine discarded a full damn half a time here, OK."

While nan erstwhile president's New Mexico rally 5 days earlier Election Day whitethorn not boost him successful nan conflict for nan state's 5 electoral votes, it could boost Republicans down ballot.

Nella Domenici, nan Republican Senate nominee successful New Mexico, campaigns successful Carlsbad, N.M., Oct. 29, 2024 (Nella Domenici Senate campaign)

Nella Domenici, nan 2024 GOP Senate nominee and nan girl of New Mexico's past Republican senator, is trying to conclusion Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is moving successful November for a 3rd six-year term, arsenic her statement useful to triumph backmost nan chamber's majority.

"Trump is decidedly going to thief america pinch nan independents," Domenici predicted successful a Fox News Digital question and reply connected nan eve of nan erstwhile president's visit. "People are really excited to person Trump travel here."

Domenici, who said astatine nan Trump rally, emphasized that "it decidedly excites nan guidelines hugely, and nan guidelines is benignant of a increasing term."

Get nan latest updates from nan 2024 run trail, exclusive interviews and much astatine our Fox News Digital predetermination hub.