**Trump Campaigns in Unlikely New Mexico and Virginia in Final Days**

In a surprising turn, Donald Trump is focusing his campaign efforts on New Mexico and Virginia during the final stretch, rather than concentrating solely on the seven key battleground states. The former president is set to hold rallies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Thursday and Salem, Virginia, on Saturday. This decision comes despite the fact that New Mexico and Virginia haven't supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.

The Trump campaign is feeling optimistic, partly due to favorable early voting figures. They believe he could be competitive against Democrat Kamala Harris in these states, particularly if he can secure victories in swing states such as Nevada and Arizona. However, New Mexico and Virginia have demonstrated strong Democratic leanings in recent elections, challenging the notion of an easy win for Trump.

Traditional battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have been inundated with candidate visits and political advertisements. In stark contrast, a visit from a presidential candidate is a rare occurrence in the remaining states. Trump, however, still draws significant support even in typically Democratic regions, as evidenced by recent rallies at Madison Square Garden in New York and in Coachella, California.

Trump's campaign stops also highlight key state-specific issues, including immigration in New Mexico, which has the highest concentration of Latino voters in the nation. His stop in Albuquerque aligns with significant political races, including a congressional swing district and a Senate seat currently held by Democrat Martin Heinrich. Republican Nella Domenici, daughter of former Senator Pete Domenici, is contesting Heinrich's position.

In Virginia, once a battleground state until recently, Trump aims to pivot the political landscape back in favor of the GOP. Despite losing Virginia to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump's campaign is pushing for a competitive stance in the state. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin recently mentioned that the state appears more competitive than pundits claim.

The implications of Trump's stops are not without risks. His strategy bears similarity to Hillary Clinton’s criticized decision in 2016 to campaign in Arizona instead of more decisive states like Wisconsin, Michigan, or Pennsylvania. This move questions the strategic sensibility of spending valuable campaign days in non-battleground states so late in the race.

Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, dismisses Trump's visit as futile, believing it will only strengthen Kamala Harris's lead. Nonetheless, Trump remains determined, painting an optimistic picture of his campaign strategy as the countdown to Election Day continues.