Ciattarelli takes notes from Trump’s book at a New Jersey beach rally

Wildwood, New Jersey – There is a strong case for doing so Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk They are the two most important conservative figures in the country over the past decade, and the Republican Party’s nominee for governor of New Jersey Jack Ciattarelli Clearly notes were taken.

In the age of screens and isolation Trump He and Kirk have always understood the power of presence and actual human interaction — and it was on full display Friday night in this South Jersey beach town.

DAVID MARCUS: For Jack Ciattarelli, South Jersey and voter enthusiasm are the key to victory

By my count, about 800 people showed up on the boardwalk. Among them was 24-year-old Alex, V.I The gold itself is six And sunglasses.

“It’s just kind of taking advantage of the humanity of everything,” he told me, adding: “When we fight online, we forget what kind of common ground there can be.”

Diane and Renee were out with their husbands at the event, and Diane told me about the live marches: “I feel like it brings us together more, and makes us feel like, ‘Let’s go!'”

Dominic, a teacher in his 50s, told me that he often feels frustrated by the woke education agenda. He credited Kirk with using live events to “ignite something in the youth of America.”

It wasn’t just voters, but also candidates, who saw the value of an in-person rally. “President Trump held his first rally in Wildwood here, and it was a tremendous success,” Billy Prempeh, who lost the race for Congress in New Jersey’s 9th District last time out and is running again, told me.

In terms of issues, energy prices were top concerns, as were taxes and crime. But there was a force that transcended any particular political concerns and turned the event into an urgent call to “Reclaim New Jersey.”

Inside the Navy Pier, just before entering the walkway platform, voters chatted at tables, enjoying a buffet from CapeGOP, which organized the event and provided its friendly host, Mike Donahue.

The Turning Point USA table — Kirk’s most visible legacy — was filled with excitement. Its young organizers were formulating plans to sweep schools in the Garden State.

It was fun, it was festive, and it was hopeful.

These days, when more than 100 Democrats gather in the same place, things tend to get heated — often American flags. But for the Republican Party, these events are not just peaceful; They are really happy.

This image of the happy conservative warrior was embodied by everyone I spoke to, and this image of the Republican Party has very good effect across the country.

In fact, another part of the secret sauce that made Trump and Kirk’s rallies so successful is that they often took place in parts of the country where relatively few people would venture there. Trump preferred to stop at a small town airport for a rally rather than go to a big city. Kirk’s events extended into the so-called bridge country.

There’s no escaping the feeling of being in a revival tent at conservative political rallies these days. God is spoken of by many speakers and attendees – without shame – not as something to be tolerated but to be celebrated.

In a post-COVID-19 world, Republicans across the country would be wise to focus heavily on these live events — with music, food and maybe even a couple of beers.

It’s not just the 800 people who already came to Wildwood on Friday that are important here — it’s everyone they have to tell about it. It’s the kind of enthusiasm that turns one voter into many.

Click here for more Fox News opinions

Although Ciattarelli impressed the crowd, it was GOP pro-vote leader Scott Pressler, with his flowing dark hair, who attracted the most attention and answered the most selfie requests. These are incredibly valuable voters.

Charlie Kirk understood, and President Trump understands, that live events and parades and just being in each other’s company means an enormous amount to people. As Democrats succumb more and more to angry insults, the GOP’s hedonism has become a powerful counterpoint.

Trump raised the idea of ​​holding a midterm national conference next year. Not only should Republicans do this, but it should be a huge blast — a family-friendly theme park that embodies the American dream, something the entire country can watch in awe.

One month after Kirk was assassinated at his event in Utah, speakers and the crowd stood on the boardwalk this weekend unafraid of those who would wish them harm. They stood up for their party, their country and Charlie Kirk — as well as for Jack Ciattarelli, who hopes to convince voters that the happy-go-lucky conservative warrior can lead the Garden State again.

Click here to read more from David Marcus