The Eau Claire Event District hosted its second presidential campaign rally in just a few weeks, this time with Senator JD Vance.
Senator Vance, the vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party, made his second visit to the city on Tuesday. His last visit came on the same day as Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s rally at the Eau Claire Event District.
Vance hosted his rally in the High Country building at the venue rather than in the outdoors area like the Harris rally. With the smaller space, only about 500 people attended the Vance event compared to an estimated 12,000 who attended the outdoors Harris rally.
Vance’s remarks focused on popular Republican talking points revolving around immigration, inflation, and public safety. He lamented the rising prices for groceries and gas and pointed towards illegal immigration as a cause for many of the struggles Americans are facing today.
When asked about specific policies to protect access to rural healthcare, Senator Vance again invoked illegal immigration as one of the reasons rural hospitals are struggling financially. He also said providing more choices for veterans who currently use the Department of Veterans Administration for healthcare would help alleviate those struggles.
Vance also spoke about the situation in Springfield, Ohio during his speech. Both he and former President Donald Trump have recently amplified claims that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of residents in the town, a story local officials say is not supported by any factual evidence.
A number of local representatives also spoke at the rally, including Congressman Derrick Van Orden. His comments also focused on immigration and inflation concerns.
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