In the early hours of the morning a crowd of bleary-eyed Las Vegans meandered down the Strip toward the Tropicana casino to witness the end of an era.
Among the longest-standing landmarks in Sin City the Tropicana was once known as the epitome of grandeur, graced by the Rat Pack and a host of feathered showgirls. It was the last true mob building on the Strip.
But now, it was due to be obliterated in a spectacular implosion, accompanied by a fireworks display, to make way for a baseball stadium.
The legendary venue’s demise, after nearly 70 years, brought a mixture of locals and tourists from all over the country, and they congregated along the side of the road.
As they waited conversation inevitably turned to the upcoming presidential election, and who might replace Joe Biden.
‘Oh, that’s another kind of implosion,’ one bystander joked about the political showdown.
Nevada is a battleground state in the razor-thin race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. For weeks the airwaves have been flooded with adverts pushing claims and counter-claims.
Crowds of people from all over the country gathered to watch the as the Tropicana Las Vegas implosion on the Strip after nearly 70 years. A bystander joked the 2024 election would be another kind of ‘implosion’ but people in Sin City had mixed thoughts on how the race for the White House would go
But in the world’s most famous gambling city people are still having a hard time predicting who will come out on top on November 5.
With the odds up in the air some have decided not to cast a ballot at all.
Torta Jones was born and raised in Las Vegas. He knows all too well the major role his home state plays in the race for the White House. It is not that he never votes, but he has no plans to participate this year.
‘If they had a gun to my head, and they made me vote, that gun would go off,’ Jones insisted. ‘I can’t imagine me voting for either of those idiots.’
While he doesn’t plan to vote, if he had to bet, he thinks the Democratic nominee is the likelier winner in Nevada.
‘When he tried to shoot Trump, I was like “oh this motherf****r has got it,”’ he said ‘But then Joe Biden left. I think Kamala might win. I just think they need somebody young in there.’
The latest average of polling by Real Clear Politics indicates he might be onto something. It has Harris up one point in Nevada with less than a month to go.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are locked in a tight race for the White House with just 27 days go go before Election Day on November 5
JC Lane, 46, traveled to Las Vegas to witness the Tropicana implosion after growing up in the city and having fun memories of visiting the casino. Now, he lives in Phoenix, Arizona, another presidential battleground state.
Lane would not share who he is casting his ballot for because when it comes to politics he thinks ‘it’s gotten a little crazy.’ But he did make a prediction on which direction he thinks his state is headed.
‘I feel pretty strongly Arizona is going to go for Trump judging by the volume of signs and bumper stickers,’ he said.
His bet also aligns with the latest polling data. The Real Clear Politics average has Trump up nearly one and a half points in the western swing state.
But Jason Grape doesn’t want to hear that. He was a 2016 Trump voter who flipped for Biden in 2020. In November, both he and wife Nicole plan to vote for Harris.
‘I’m just tired of the MAGA bulls**t,’ he confessed.
The firework display before the implosion of the Tropicana Las Vegas on October 9, 2024
The couple drove all the way from Chicago to Nevada to watch the Tropicana meet its end. That’s about 25 hours on the road, and politics have been on the top of his mind.
He was worried at first after President Biden dropped out of the race, but now he thinks the 2024 election is giving off real 2008 vibes and Harris could win.
Grape said he voted for Trump in 2016 because he ‘wasn’t paying attention’ and the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton swayed him.
He thinks the results in November will have an impact that lasts for decades and 2024 really is the ‘most important election in our lifetime.’
Before first light on Wednesday the Tropicana was finally reduced to rubble, and it took less than 30 seconds to come down.
Two miles along the Strip, Donald Trump’s 20-year-old golden hotel will likely stand for decades to come.
It remains to be seen if the denizens of Las Vegas put their money on him.
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