An analysis of in-person events hosted by both campaigns since April shows that among the battleground states of the 2020 election cycle, Pennsylvania and Florida have the distinction of receiving the most campaign visits from the candidates, with Republicans more active in hosting in-person events during the pandemic era. President Trump and former vice president Joe Biden’s campaigns rallied in these crucial states more than a dozen times each over the last few months.
Where Trump and Pence have traveled
Trump
Pence
Mont.
Minn.
N.H.
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Va.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
S.C.
Ga.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Trump
Pence
Maine
Mont.
Minn.
N.H.
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Va.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
S.C.
Ga.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Trump
Pence
Maine
Mont.
Minn.
N.H.
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Va.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
S.C.
Ga.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Trump
Pence
Maine
Mont.
Minn.
N.H.
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Va.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
S.C.
Ga.
Texas
La.
Fla.
These swing states are key to both parties’ route to win the election. Winning Florida will boost Trump’s reelection chances, and securing Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina virtually guarantees the president four more years in the White House. Trump’s campaign has hosted at least 58 public and in-person events in these swing states over the campaign.
His campaign has also hosted in-person events in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin, states which he won in 2016 but recent polls show as leaning in favor of the Democrats.
Meanwhile, flipping Florida and Pennsylvania, states that both voted for Trump in 2016, will almost certainly give the keys to the White House to Biden. “You hold the key. If Florida goes blue, it’s over,” Biden said to voters at a car rally on the campus of Broward College, a statement that has become a staple of his campaign in the closing weeks.
Where Biden and Harris have traveled
Biden
Harris
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Minn.
Ore.
Vt.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
R.I.
Conn.
Wyo.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
D.C.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Calif.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Alaska
Hawaii
Biden
Harris
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Minn.
Ore.
Vt.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
R.I.
Conn.
Wyo.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
D.C.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Calif.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Alaska
Hawaii
Biden
Harris
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Minn.
Ore.
Vt.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
R.I.
Conn.
Wyo.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
D.C.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Calif.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Alaska
Hawaii
Biden
Harris
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Minn.
Ore.
Vt.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
Mich.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
R.I.
Conn.
Wyo.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
D.C.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Calif.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
Texas
La.
Fla.
Alaska
Hawaii
Biden has sought to address a key criticism of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign by focusing on winning back the key swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden’s team has made several stops in these states over the past two months.
Biden addressed voters in Pennsylvania seven times over the last two weeks, and he rallied with former president Barack Obama in Detroit.
Trump’s campaign has been more consistent in its strategy. Despite the virus, the rallies, the crowd and the message are similar to the ones that elected him in 2016.
In mid-June, with cases spiking nationwide, Trump hosted rallies in Orlando and Tulsa. The president chose Florida to formally announce his reelection bid on June 18, 2019, during the rally in Orlando.
Trump, as well as Biden, have not only campaigned in large cities. They have also visited smaller cities such as Allentown, Pa., or La Crosse, Wis., to capitalize on the attention of local media. In September, Biden took Amtrak on a multi-stop trip to campaign in rural areas such as Greensburg and Latrobe in Pennsylvania.
For the Trump campaign, the president’s covid-19 diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization for treatment in the first week of October barely slowed the pace of large in-person events — frequently held with few physical distancing precautions and large numbers of attendees without masks.
Timeline of visits of the Republican campaign
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean
Republican
Lean
Democrat
Toss up
Trump
Pa.
Pa.
Nov.
Fla.
Mich.
Fla.
Mich.
N.C.
N.C.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
Fla.
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
Ariz.
Pa.
Fla.
Ga.
Ohio
Fla.
Pa.
N.C.
Iowa
Fla.
Fla.
Oct.
Fla.
Ohio
N.C.
Fla.
Ohio
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
N.C.
Sept.
Ariz.
Pa.
Trump
hospitalized
Wis.
Pa.
Ohio
Aug.
Fla.
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Tex.
Tex.
Ga.
Fla.
Fla.
July
Tex.
June
Maine
Fla.
Mich.
Mich.
Pa.
May
Ariz.
Pence
Nov.
Pa.
Pa.
N.C.
N.C.
Pa.
Pa.
Ohio
Mich.
Fla.
Ariz.
Oct.
Iowa
Iowa
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Sept.
N.C.
Pa.
Aug.
Fla.
Fla.
Wis.
Pa.
July
Iowa
Pa.
June
Md.
Ga.
Iowa
May
Wis.
April
Va.
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean
Republican
Lean
Democrat
Toss up
Trump
Iowa
Ga.
Mich.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Nov.
Mich.
Wis.
Pa.
Fla.
Mich.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Wis.
Mich.
N.C.
N.C.
Ariz.
Pa.
Fla.
Ga.
Ohio
Fla.
Pa.
Iowa
Wis.
Fla.
Oct.
Fla.
Minn.
Va.
Pa.
N.C.
Fla.
Pa.
Wis.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
N.C.
Sept.
Ariz.
N.C.
Wis.
N.C.
Trump
hospitalized
Pa.
Wis.
Ariz.
Iowa
Ariz.
Ohio
Ohio
Aug.
Fla.
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Tex.
Tex.
Ga.
Fla.
July
Wis.
Ariz.
Tex.
June
Maine
Fla.
Mich.
Mich.
Pa.
May
Ariz.
Pence
Nov.
Pa.
N.C.
Pa.
Ariz.
N.C.
S.C.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
N.C.
Mich.
Ariz.
Oct.
Iowa
Pa.
Wis.
Ohio
N.Y.
Pa.
Pa.
Wis.
Sept.
N.C.
Pa.
Pa.
Mich.
Aug.
Fla.
Fla.
Fla.
Ind.
S.C.
Wis.
Pa.
July
Iowa
Pa.
June
Md.
Ga.
Iowa
May
Ind.
Wis.
April
Va.
Electoral college votes
20
30
10
Electoral college ratings
Lean Republican
Lean Democrat
Toss up
Trump
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
N.C.
Wis.
Ariz.
Wis.
Pa.
Mich.
Mich.
Ohio
Ariz.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Ga.
Fla.
Minn.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Minn.
Fla.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Va.
N.C.
Fla.
Ohio
Maine
Pa.
N.H.
Wis.
Ga.
Fla.
Ariz.
Fla.
Minn.
Wis.
Tex.
N.H.
Iowa
Tex.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Minn.
Fla.
Minn.
Nev.
Fla.
Fla.
Mich.
Fla.
Pa.
N.C.
Ariz.
Ariz.
N.C.
Mich.
Pa.
Pa.
Ohio
Tex.
Fla.
Fla.
Tenn.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Wis.
Tex.
Pa.
Mich.
Pa.
N.C.
N.C.
Maine
Pa.
Wis.
Mich.
Ohio
Ga.
N.C.
Wis.
Ohio
N.C.
Tex.
Pa.
Wis.
Fla.
Fla.
Ohio
Pa.
Mich.
N.C.
Pa.
Iowa
Wis.
Neb.
N.C.
Wis.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
Mich.
Ariz.
Ga.
N.C.
Trump
hospitalized
Iowa
Pence
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Wis.
Pa.
Ohio
Wis.
Mich.
Pa.
Ariz.
Fla.
N.C.
Mich.
S.C.
Wis.
N.Y.
Fla.
Nev.
Okla.
Ohio
Minn.
N.C.
Wis.
Pa.
Minn.
Mont.
Fla.
Fla.
Pa.
N.H.
Pa.
Iowa
Md.
Pa.
Iowa
Iowa
Wis.
N.C.
Va.
Ga.
Pa.
Wis.
Ind.
Pa.
N.H.
Ariz.
Pa.
Iowa
Fla.
Va.
Ind.
Ind.
Mich.
Ariz.
Pa.
Ariz.
Iowa
Iowa
La.
Ariz.
Wis.
Maine
Pa.
Wis.
Wis.
Ohio
Ariz.
S.C.
Pa.
Mich.
Wis.
Iowa
Ohio
Iowa
Utah
N.C.
N.C.
Pa.
N.C.
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean Democrat
Toss up
Lean Republican
Trump
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
N.C.
Wis.
Ariz.
Wis.
Pa.
Mich.
Mich.
Ohio
Ariz.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Ga.
Fla.
Minn.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Minn.
Fla.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Va.
N.C.
Fla.
Ohio
Maine
Pa.
N.H.
Wis.
Ga.
Fla.
Ariz.
Fla.
Minn.
Wis.
Tex.
N.H.
Iowa
Tex.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Minn.
Fla.
Minn.
Nev.
Fla.
Fla.
Mich.
Fla.
Pa.
N.C.
Ariz.
Ariz.
N.C.
Mich.
Pa.
Pa.
Ohio
Tex.
Fla.
Fla.
Tenn.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Wis.
Tex.
Pa.
Mich.
Pa.
N.C.
N.C.
Maine
Pa.
Wis.
Mich.
Ohio
Ga.
N.C.
Wis.
Ohio
N.C.
Tex.
Pa.
Wis.
Fla.
Fla.
Ohio
Pa.
Mich.
N.C.
Pa.
Iowa
Wis.
Neb.
N.C.
Wis.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
Mich.
Ariz.
Ga.
N.C.
Trump
hospitalized
Iowa
Pence
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Wis.
Pa.
Ohio
Wis.
Mich.
Pa.
Ariz.
Fla.
N.C.
Mich.
S.C.
Wis.
N.Y.
Fla.
Okla.
Nev.
Ohio
Minn.
N.C.
Wis.
Pa.
Minn.
Mont.
Fla.
Fla.
Pa.
N.H.
Pa.
Iowa
Md.
Pa.
Iowa
Iowa
Wis.
N.C.
Va.
Ga.
Pa.
Wis.
Ind.
Pa.
N.H.
Ariz.
Pa.
Iowa
Fla.
Va.
Ind.
Ind.
Mich.
Ariz.
Pa.
Ariz.
Iowa
La.
Iowa
Ariz.
Wis.
Maine
Pa.
Wis.
Wis.
Ohio
Ariz.
S.C.
Pa.
Mich.
Wis.
Iowa
Ohio
Iowa
Utah
N.C.
N.C.
Pa.
N.C.
In contrast, Biden’s campaign showed a more cautious approach. The campaign didn’t host any in-person events during the summer when many parts of the country were in the middle of a surge in reported cases. Only during the last two months have Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), campaigned repeatedly in crucial states such as Pennsylvania, Florida or Michigan.
Timeline of visits of the Democratic campaign
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean
Republican
Lean
Democrat
Toss up
Biden
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Nov.
Wis.
Pa.
Fla.
Fla.
Pa.
Ga.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Fla.
Ohio
Oct.
Fla.
Pa.
Nev.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Fla.
N.Y.
Mich.
Pa.
Sept.
Pa.
Pa.
Wis.
Aug.
Del.
Pa.
Pa.
July
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
June
Del.
Pa.
Harris
Pa.
Nov.
Pa.
Tex.
Tex.
Fla.
Tex.
Ariz.
Fla.
N.C.
Nev.
Ga.
N.C.
Nev.
Fla.
N.C.
Oct.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
Sept.
Wis.
D.C.
Aug.
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean
Republican
Lean
Democrat
Toss up
Biden
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Nov.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Mich.
Ga.
Pa.
Mich.
Fla.
Ohio
Pa.
Ohio
Fla.
Mich.
Ohio
Ariz.
Ohio
Oct.
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Wis.
Pa.
Fla.
Fla.
N.Y.
Pa.
Sept.
Pa.
Wis.
Pa.
Wis.
Wis.
Aug.
Del.
Pa.
Pa.
July
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
June
Del.
Pa.
Harris
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Nov.
Tex.
N.C.
Ga.
Ariz.
Tex.
Fla.
Tex.
Fla.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Mich.
N.C.
Nev.
Nev.
Ga.
N.C.
N.C.
Fla.
Fla.
Utah
Ariz.
Oct.
Nev.
N.C.
N.C.
Mich.
Mich.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Sept.
D.C.
Aug.
Electoral college votes
20
30
10
Electoral college ratings
Lean Republican
Lean Democrat
Toss up
Biden
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Fla.
N.C.
Fla.
Mich.
Nev.
Mich.
Mich.
Minn.
Ohio
Ohio
Tenn.
Pa.
Pa.
Minn.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Del.
Fla.
Ohio
Iowa
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Del.
Pa.
Wis.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Wis.
Mich.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Mich.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Mich.
N.Y.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
Ga.
Pa.
Wis.
Wis.
Ohio
Harris
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Fla.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Mich.
Ga.
N.C.
Ariz.
N.C.
Tex.
Utah
Pa.
N.C.
Nev.
Fla.
D.C.
Mich.
Tex.
Fla.
Nev.
Ariz.
N.C.
Pa.
Mich.
Wis.
N.C.
Fla.
Fla.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
N.C.
Pa.
Ga.
Tex.
Nev.
Ariz.
Electoral college votes
10
20
30
Electoral college ratings
Lean Republican
Lean Democrat
Toss up
Biden
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Fla.
N.C.
Fla.
Mich.
Nev.
Mich.
Mich.
Minn.
Ohio
Ohio
Tenn.
Pa.
Pa.
Minn.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Del.
Fla.
Ohio
Iowa
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Del.
Pa.
Wis.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Wis.
Wis.
Mich.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fla.
Pa.
Mich.
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Mich.
N.Y.
Fla.
Pa.
Ohio
Fla.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Ariz.
Ga.
Pa.
Wis.
Wis.
Ohio
Harris
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Fla.
Ariz.
N.C.
N.C.
Mich.
Ga.
N.C.
Ariz.
N.C.
Tex.
Utah
Pa.
N.C.
Nev.
Fla.
D.C.
Mich.
Tex.
Fla.
Nev.
Ariz.
N.C.
Pa.
Mich.
Wis.
N.C.
Fla.
Fla.
Mich.
Pa.
Fla.
N.C.
Pa.
Ga.
Tex.
Nev.
Ariz.
Instead, Democrats tried to take their events online. Over the last few months, Biden and Harris participated in more than 50 online events such as town halls or meetings with political groups and voters.
Joe Biden, accompanied by his granddaughter Natalie Biden, speaks to people outside a campaign center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Unlike Clinton, Biden and Harris limited their in-person campaign events in red states that could flip and instead worked to shore up support in battleground states that will decide the election. In the past week though, Harris has scheduled events in Texas, a traditionally red state, where Democrats hope to take advantage of changing demographics and antipathy toward Trump.
Armand Emamdjomeh contributed to this report.
Candidate illustrations by Ben Kirchner for The Washington Post.
Events data from Washington Post reporting, C-SPAN campaign event tracker and Ballotpedia. Race ratings from the Cook Political Report. Only in-person public events such as rallies, speeches or visits where the candidate addressed specific voters have been considered for this analysis. Remarks to the press, news conferences or events in the cities the candidates live such as Wilmington, Del., or Washington have not been considered for the analysis. Fundraising events, live chats, kickoff calls and video calls are not included. Events have been collected between April 1 and Nov. 2.
