He’s a winner, the other candidates are losers and “this country is a mess.”
All that according to presidential candidate Donald Trump, who graced the Capital City with his hyperbolic presence Thursday night to deliver a wide-ranging speech at the Baton Rouge River Center.
“I love everyone in this room,” Trump said. “You know, we’re all here together. Amazing. Amazing people. Amazing, amazing people.”
Trump called the Tigers a “good team” before starting an “LSU” chant. “Go Tigers” chants also broke out more than an hour before the event, as thousands milled around the arena, chicken fingers and nachos in hand, enjoying an atmosphere closer to a large sporting event than a political rally.
Upon taking the stage, Trump quickly turned to current politicians, calling U.S. leaders “bloodsuckers and “hacks.” The billionaire touched on countless topics, detailing his thoughts on his fellow candidates, the Islamic State group, illegal immigration and the stock market, among others.
“I’ll have four years of relaxation,” Trump said of a hypothetical second term, “because I’ll do most of the work in the first four years.”
Almost all 10,600 seats were full as supporters sat beneath a massive, arching sound and lighting system usually reserved for the Beach Boys concerts and monster truck events set to happen here in the coming weeks. Trump noted the “5,000” people still waiting outside, trying to get in.
Supporters donned Trump’s patented “Make America Great Again” hats, and a handful of children, dressed as if for a glittery patriotic ball, grabbed Donald Trump stickers like they were candy.
Computer science junior Danielle Bell, however, wore a gold LSU Tigers T-shirt, keeping her support for the GOP frontrunner modest with a small Trump button.
Trump, she insisted, is the most pro-veteran candidate and thus earned her support. But she doesn’t think Trump will do well with most University students.
“Lots of students are Democrats,” she said. “New age, new Democrat thing. So no, he’ll do better with the older crowd but not with the students.”
Tigers for Trump, a University student organization dedicated to the billionaire businessman, helped set up the event, but a spokesman for the organization declined to comment.
Trump, fresh off a “tremendous” victory in the first primary in the country in New Hampshire, is scheduled to visit Tampa, Florida Friday to rally supporters there.
The rest of the Republican field, not enjoying the same “massive” lead in South Carolina polls as Trump, spent Thursday night campaigning in the state while Trump got a head start on Louisiana’s March 5 primary. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also visited Baton Rouge in January.
Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta and former state representative Woody Jenkins serve as co-chairs for Trump’s Louisiana campaign and introduced him to the restless crowd Thursday night 30 minutes behind schedule. Jenkins, invoking southern tradition, referred to the “older” Trump as “Mr. Donald.”
“We’ll only be able to call him that until January,” Jenkins said. “Then we’re gonna call him…”
“Mr. President,” the crowd roared.