Make wishtv.com your home page

Protesters, supporters try to sway voters outside Trump rally

CARMEL, Ind (WISH) — The 2016 presidential election rolled into Carmel Monday.

The line grew as the day went on outside the Palladium in Carmel, but there were around 30 people who arrived six hours ahead of the speech.

“We will laugh,” Trump supporter Jane Mitchell said of how the group will spend time before the rally. “We will have snacks. We will try to hydrate.”

Mitchell and Jumie Davis saw Trump last week, but they couldn’t resist one more rally.

“He signed my hat, he blew me kisses,” Mitchell said. “It was a dream come true. It was absolutely 100 percent worth the wait.”

“Seeing Mr. Trump in person is so much more exciting than seeing the little bits and pieces on TV,” Davis said.

Not everyone has seen this show before. Jason Whorton has tried two other rallies, but wasn’t able to get inside. The Missouri native figured the third time is the charm.

“It’s important to be here because I want to see him in person,” Whorton said. “It’s going to be different, I think.”

That doesn’t mean all Hoosier Republicans saw eye-to-eye. William Rule says any other federally-elected official is better than Trump.

“He’s bombastic,” Rule said. “He’s narcissistic. He’s everything Bobby Knight didn’t say he was.”

With the primary only hours away, it’s mixed feelings over whether Indiana GOP voters believe Trump’s Hamilton County stop will work.

“The Jerry Springer show needs to come to a close and let’s try to find our direction from here,” Rule said.

“Trump is going to trump Cruz (on Tuesday), totally,” Davis said. “There’s just no doubt.”

Carmel officers and K-9 units were used to provide security. City officials said they will not bill the Trump campaign because of the national attention he provided the city and Palladium. The city also did not bill Ted Cruz during his recent stop.