Just like that President Donald Trump announced another Trump Rally and 69,000 people signed up on-line for free tickets to attend the rally Monday night in El Paso, Texas. Some 10,000 early arrivals packed the El Paso County Coliseum, while another 25,000 Trump supporters had to watch the rally outside the venue on big screens.

Down the street, less than a half-mile away at the Chalio Acosta Sports Center was former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) who — soon after learning of Trump’s rally — quickly organized a duel rally entitled March for Truth. According to news reports, O’Rourke’s rally only attracted about 300 supporters, but he received heavy media attention, while the Trump Rally was underplayed on mainstream media.

The phenomenon of President Trump was on full display and every person in the arena hung on every word the president spoke. The cheering and chanting of “USA – USA — USA” and “Build the Wall — Build the all” was deafening. Nobody was sitting down. The president was in complete control. He appeared confident and assertive as he repeated common themes about strengthening the southern border with Mexico.

On the flipside — a stone’s throw away — O’Rourke appeared disorganized. He screamed about El Paso, a city of about 700,000 residents on the Texas/Mexico border, being a safe place to live before the border barrier was built 10 years ago. One thing to come out of O’Rourke’s media coverage is that he really is a weak candidate. He is expected to announce soon his run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. His dismal showing of support for his March or Truth rally should give cause for the Democrats to abandon Beto, who has been a media darling and rising political star since he ran against and lost the Texas Senate race to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in 2016. Beat it Beto – vamoose.

“A young man who’s got very little going for himself except he’s got a great first name,” said the president speaking about O’Rourke. “What I would say is, that may be the end of his presidential bid” (for the lack of support).

To begin with President Trump’s trip to El Paso as intended to rally support or a strategic wall along portions of the southern border where the worst numbers of illegal entries across the border are made. He is asking congress to approve $5.7-billion for building the wall. House Democrats have steadfastly said no to any border all funding which led to the recent partial government shutdown. Negotiations between the Trump Administration and the Democrats have been in progress and the nation again may face another government shutdown.

The president may yet declare a “national emergency” to secure the necessary border all funding.

O’Rourke is one of these so-called ‘progressive Democrats’ that want the United States of America to become a sanctuary country accepting all manner of immigrants from around the world seeking a better life. He is all in with universal healthcare and free public education. He is a free-wheeling big spender sure to ruin the Trump economy.

Monday’s dueling rallies in El Paso clearly show the difference between real Americans that value their home country of the USA by putting America first and those wanting to give away the USA.

About the Author Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.