CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Former President Donald Trump made his first post-debate campaign stop at a Friday afternoon rally in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Trump opened the rally bashing President Joe Biden's debate performance from the previous night.
"Did anybody last night watch a thing called the debate? Yeah, that was a big one," Trump said after waving to the crowd. "Despite the fact that crooked Joe Biden spent the entire week at Camp David resting, working, studying. He studied very hard. He studied so hard that he didn't know what the hell he was doing."
WATCH: Donald Trump opens Virginia rally bashing Biden debate performance
Attendees from across the Commonwealth spoke to the buzz in the crowd today.
“It’s our first rally, and we got up to drive at 1 a.m. this morning,” said Faith Right from Culpeper, Va. “It’s the least we can do for him since he’s done so much for us.”
Earlier in the day, Biden spoke at a campaign rally in North Carolina where he admitted the debate did not go as planned.
"I don’t debate as well as I used to [but] I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done,” Biden said during his 18-minute speech. "The choice in this election is simple. Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it."
Back in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the former president and urged Virginians to vote for Trump in November.
"Come on, Virginians. This is easy. Success versus failure. Strength versus weakness," Youngkin said before discussing violent incidents he blamed on Biden's border policies. "The choice couldn't be more clear because we know that elections have consequences, elections have consequences and we must continue the hard work that we started in 2021."
WATCH: Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at Donald Trump rally in Virginia
“I think Youngkin is incredible, and he shares the same values,” said Denise Waters, a volunteer for the event. “I think it’s great they’re working together.”
Youngkin notably did not endorse Trump until after the primary, though he said Friday that Trump's policies on the economy, immigration, national security, police, and education align with Virginia.
Democratic leaders held a counter press conference just down the street from the rally.
Susan Swecker, Virginia Democrat Chair, said they opened five new campaign offices since Thursday night.
She believes Virginians should vote for President Biden because he backs veterans, will work to protect women’s rights to choose, and continue to create jobs and strengthen the economy.
"I’ve been here in Virginia for a long time and this is earliest I’ve seen presidential campaigning going and we’re going to stay laser-focused on what our job is because we know what is at stake," Virginia Democrat Chair Susan Swecker said.
Democrats say they do not believe Republicans can flip the state based on Trump losing Virginia by double digits in 2020 in addition to Glenn Youngkin losing the Virginia legislative elections last year, despite him trying to hold the Virginia House and flip the Virginia Senate.
Biden won the Commonwealth by 10 points in the 2020 presidential election. This time, Trump says a victory in Virginia could seal the deal for the former president to win the whole election.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, with early voting starting in Virginia on September 20.
This is a developing story.
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