Voting as Participation

Republican presidential candidates don't campaign much in California or New York in the general, knowing they aren't going to win the state, so why put resources there?  Democrats don't spend much time in Utah, I'm guessing. There has long been speculation what would happen if there were more turnout in closed states.  I don't think that anyone predicts Republicans would suddenly be competitive in liberal states, but it would be interesting to know what the popular vote total - which we were clubbed with 2017-19 - actually would be if the voters in those two large states plus some others were not permanently discouraged. The difference in the popular vote totals are largely California plus New York. How real are the numbers?  I have long wished that some candidate would try to have a few events there, just to see what would happen.

Trump is exactly the guy to try something like that, to go to California and say "Come out and vote for me and don't worry about the result.  It gives you a chance to participate in the victory! You can be part of this anyway." Because participating actually is one of the main reasons people vote.  We talk about being tactical or even manipulative with our vote, but that's mostly just talk.  I feel good after I vote.  I feel even better if the weather is terrible and I have to make some effort to get there. I just enjoy being part of it. I can do arithmetic, I know it doesn't matter a bit. I don't know if anyone can tap into that, but Trump seems more likely than most to pull it off.