US President Donald Trump rallied his supporters in New Mexico on Monday and talked up his chances of turning the state red as part of his efforts to expand his grip on the Electoral College in next year's presidential election.
"It's been a while since a Republican won New Mexico," Trump told supporters, who greeted him with chants of "USA, USA."
''I think we're going to do great here. We're here because we really think we're going to turn this state and make it a Republican state."
New Mexico has not voted for a Republican in the presidential election since 2004.
Trump captured just 40% of the state vote in 2016, as compared to the 48% that went for Hillary Clinton.
She did not visit the state during the 2016 campaign.
He also spoke about the US/Mexico border, thanking Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for "doing a great job for us on the border", which was met by chants of "build that wall" from his supporters.
Trump reassured his supporters that the wall was being built, adding that it was difficult to do with the Democrats in control of the House.
"We'll have almost 500 miles of wall built by the end of next year, and it's making a big difference" he added.
Trump also spoke about Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who is facing a new sexual misconduct allegation, accusing the Democrats of using "phony congressional committees," to "demean" and to "libel."
"Look at what they're doing today to Justice Kavanaugh," he said, adding,"he's a great man by the way."
Trump's rally in Rio Rancho, in suburban Albuquerque, is the first stop on a three-day swing that will also take him to California for fundraisers expected to raise more than $15 million.
Trump is looking to find the next Wisconsin or Michigan - states that Democrats generally win in presidential elections but that can surprise under certain conditions, as they did in 2016.
