For what must have been at least 10 minutes straight at last Thursday’s rally in Colorado Springs, President Donald Trump went over 2016 primary debate polling results. 

That’s right.  At the Broadmoor World Arena, the rambunctious president – running for re-election – held up pieces of paper that thousands in the audience could hardly glimpse, and he touted poll numbers.

About presidential primary debates.  From 2016.

It was all a part of an effort to mock the failed debate performance last Wednesday by Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg – whom Trump calls “Mini Mike” – and to play up his own debate prowess.

Friends and family who watched this bit of Trump’s two-hour speech on TV told me they got tired of it pretty quick.  “Okay, we get it,” the sentiment was.  “You won the primaries in 2016, and people really liked how you performed the debates.  Let’s move on now.”  One Colorado conservative messaged me, “Hope the rally gets better for ya’ll who are there.”  He cited Trump’s poll reading.

But the live audience wasn’t bored.  They were genuinely having…fun. 

The crowd was engaged, excited and entertained.  And if you didn’t know any better, you’d think everyone in the arena was a Trump fan right from the start – forgetting that Colorado Republicans decidedly went for Ted Cruz in 2016.

Until last Thursday, I never understood why Trump does what he does at these rallies.  I attended his last one here in October 2016, and while the crowd was fairly energized, it was incomparable to this one.  Being in the audience at a Trump 2020 rally, the enthusiasm was electric and loud.  You might as well have been at an Avs game. 

I realized that, at these rallies, Trump isn’t even thinking about the TV cameras.  He is entirely, 100% focused on the people who are in the room.  Trump wants his supporters to leave an ear-shattering arena thinking, “Wow.  That is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in politics – if not period.  I had so much fun with my friends, family and thousands of other Coloradans, and I’m so glad I wasn’t one of the hundreds who couldn’t get inside!  I’m going to leave here revved up and ready to work to re-elect Donald Trump.” 

That’s what it is.  Donald Trump is not appealing to people at home.  He’s putting on a two-hour show – almost entirely a one-man show – and is entirely playing off of the live audience.  The crowd seemed so captivated by the experience that I didn’t notice people start to trickle out until about an hour and a half into his speech.  It is not hyperbole to say the rallygoers were having a blast.

Indeed, I’ve attended Republican events in Colorado for 16 years.  In that time -which included McCain, Romney and Trump rallies in 2008, 2012 and 2016, respectively – I have never been at a political event like this one.  It hardly felt like a political event.

On the radio Saturday night, I compared it to a rock concert.  When you watch a YouTube video of a live concert, you might think, “What amazing guitar work!  I’m impressed, wouldn’t it be cool to be there?”  But once you’re at Red Rocks, and the music starts, you’re sucked into the whole experience. You just feel the music. 

Being at the Trump rally was the live concert.  Watching it on TV was watching a concert on YouTube.  By giving rallygoers a unique experience, Donald Trump gave them something powerful in politics: a memory that will drive them in the months ahead. 

Many Colorado Republicans have been skeptical of Sen. Cory Gardner.  When Trump invited Gardner on stage, you couldn’t tell.  Gardner got a hero’s welcome from the base – and he needed that.

There are many factors that drive a political campaign’s success, but an enthusiastic base – which drives turnout – is among the most important.  I’ve been skeptical of Trump’s ability to carry Colorado, thinking it’s more likely that Gardner holds the state while Trump doesn’t.

After Thursday’s rally, pundits would be wrong to count out Gardner’s or even Trump’s chances in Colorado – especially if and when Trump holds more rallies here.

It’s the best show in politics.  And no one should underestimate that.

Jimmy Sengenberger is host of “The Jimmy Sengenberger Show” on News/Talk 710 KNUS.  He is also president and CEO of the Denver-based Millennial Policy Center. His opinions are his own.