On the Main Line, Melania Trump urges a vote for her husband
Fighting to win over women voters in a state that could be critical to his chances of winning the White House, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dispatched his wife, Melania Trump, to Chester County on Thursday to press his case.
Fighting to win over women voters in a state that could be critical to his chances of winning the White House, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dispatched his wife, Melania Trump, to Chester County on Thursday to press his case.
After weeks of scrutiny over her husband's past statements about women, the aspiring first lady said she would be "an advocate for women and children." In one exchange, she asked the hundreds of people standing on an artificial-turf field at the Main Line Sports Center in Berwyn: "Do you want a country that respects women and provides them equal opportunities?"
The crowd answered with a resounding "yes!"
"Then we want Donald Trump to be our president," Trump said in her first public speech since the Republican National Convention in July. It was also the first campaign event she has headlined.
Although she has kept a relatively low profile during the campaign, she has given several interviews since a leaked tape emerged last month in which the presidential nominee discussed kissing and groping women without their permission. Before a largely friendly audience Thursday, Trump addressed the controversy over her husband's comments only elliptically.
"I come here today to talk about my husband, Donald Trump, and his deep love and respect for this country and all of its people," she said. She said her husband would make America fair, safe, prosperous, and proud.
She was introduced by Karen Pence, wife of Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. "I can tell you one thing about Melania Trump," Karen Pence said. "She is strong."
Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, was among those in attendance, and speakers included Rob Gleason, chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, and Chester County Sheriff Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh.
Chester County, where Republicans hold a registration edge and voters tend to be more highly educated than elsewhere in the state, has emerged as one of the battlegrounds in a region Trump needs to win Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, and perhaps the presidency.
Trump campaign officials said they think they can win the state if they can "bring Republicans home in the Philadelphia suburbs."
Donald Trump and Mike Pence campaigned in King of Prussia on Tuesday, one of several stops in the area during the campaign. Trump's daughter Ivanka also has visited the region.
Pence was scheduled to speak at a rally Thursday outside Pittsburgh and the Republican presidential nominee was scheduled to hold a rally in Hershey on Friday at the Giant Center arena.
In Berwyn on Thursday, Melania Trump walked on stage to cheers and the song "The Age of Aquarius" from the musical Hair. In a speech that lasted about 15 minutes, she talked about her background as a "young entrepreneur" as a model in the fashion industry, and about becoming a U.S. citizen in 2006, which she called "the greatest privilege in the world."
One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon came when she asked the crowd, "Do we want a president who is beholden to no one but you, the American people?"
Trump said if she has the "privilege" of becoming the first lady, she would "work to improve everyday life for women." She also pledged to fight to stop the bullying of children and teenagers, especially on social media, and mentioned she was a "full-time mother" to her 10-year-old son, Barron.
Carolyn Manning, 54, an attorney from Springfield, Delaware County, said Melania Trump knows what it means to work hard and uphold American values.
"She represents me as a woman. Not Hillary Clinton," Manning said.
Melania Trump left the stage to chants of "USA! USA!" and did not take questions.
Maggie Chan, 63, a Lancaster resident who immigrated from Hong Kong at 16 with her family, said Melania Trump was "exactly what I thought she'd be."
Chan said she related to Melania Trump as an immigrant who has worked hard and does not take the privileges of the country, such as freedom and education, for granted.
Melania Trump did not need to persuade Chan and her husband, Pak, 64: Both already voted for Trump. They are expecting their first grandchild to be born any day in California and sent in absentee ballots.
Jeff Napkori, 34, a Bridgeport, Montgomery County, resident and HVAC technician, came to the rally to support the presidential nominee and his wife.
"The media has been very critical of her. That's unfair," he said.
As Napkori stood in line before Melania Trump's speech, he held a small portable speaker through which he played excerpts of Donald Trump's past speeches to fire up people in the crowd, he said. When asked whether he carefully chose which speeches to play, he said: "Every clip is a good clip."
"I wanted people to hear a true leader," said Napkori, a father of two. "Mr. Trump is a true leader and he's going to change the direction of this country."
610-313-8207@MichaelleBond