Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s star power was on full display at tiny Valdosta State University on Monday as a standing-room-only crowd flooded the school’s 7.000-seat gym.
Some supporters traveled more than 100 miles to hear the brash Manhattan real estate mogul repeat his promise to build a wall around Mexico and make America great again.
It was pure, unadulterated Trump. The Donald launched his off-the-cuff remarks trumpeting his poll numbers and trashing his top two rivals, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas.
“CNN, CNN just came out with a poll, just came out. Trump, 49 percent. Little light-weight Marco Rubio, 16 percent. Lying Ted Cruz, 15 percent. “
Trump spoke for more than 40 minutes without notes in a stream-of-conscious style that bounced from Medicaid prescription prices and Obamacare to putting Christmas references back on department store shelves.
Trump not only repeated his promise to wall off the Southern U.S. border and make Mexico pay for it, he chided Mexican President Vincente Fox for dropping an “F” bomb in a recent interview and referred to the foreign leader as quote, “that guy.”
It’s a subject near to the heart of Preslie Boatright. The 18-year-old drove 90 minutes from Alma because she hopes Trump will quote, “make America great again,” and because she’s worried about unchecked immigration.
“Uhmm……All of these immigrants. Everything. Everything’s bad….”
According to media reports, a group of black students complained they were ejected from the gymnasium before Trump gave his remarks. The Trump campaign denied giving the order, according to the same reports.
Trump was endorsed at the rally by NASCAR chairman Bill France and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott. Elliott’s son Chase and drivers Ryan Newman and David Ragan also joined Trump on stage.
On the eve of Super Tuesday, with voters in key Southern states like Georgia and Texas heading to the polls, Trump was careful to hone in on guns and religion.
“The Second Amendment is under siege, and I’ll tell you what else is under siege, Christianiaty. Under siege. I’ve had tremendous support from pastors.”
At one point, Trump appeared to refer to his controversial promise to ban Muslims from coming into the country. Trump claimed to have Muslim friends, and then made a more specific reference about who he would ban.
“We can’t let the Syrians come in. We don’t know who they are. We don’t know where they come from.”
Many in the crowd, like business student Austin White of Quitman, were impressed by Trump’s business acummen.
“I believe he’s going to take the economy and turn it upside down. I believe he’s going to take this whole country and turn it upside down.”
Valdosta aluminum contractor Scott Trull thinks Trump is a problem solver who embodies the belief Republicans are better for business.
“When Republicans are in, the wheels are turning, people are making money and spending money and keeping the wheels spinning. When the Democrats get in, it slows down.”
But Trull acknowledges business hasn’t been bad lately.
“It’s great. But it could be better….”
Jared Bailey, a Vladosta businessman, says Trump may have to explain some of the liberal positions he’s taken in the past.
“As long as he upholds the foundations and the conservative principles that have shaped the Republican party for years and years, we will definitely be better off as a nation than we will be with four to eight more years of Obama policies.”
