TAMPA
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump continued to be rewarded for paying particular attention to Florida, attracting another overflowing crowd in Tampa Friday that cheered wildly as the candidate reiterated familiar campaign themes and crowed about his recent victory in the New Hampshire primary.
The University of South Florida Sun Dome — an arena that holds more than 10,000 — was full to capacity with adoring Trump fans, from the young men who spelled out his name in red on their bare chests to multiple impersonators sprinkled in the crowd.
Trump took the stage 40 minutes late and immediately began boasting about the crowd sizes at his rallies and his big margin of victory in New Hampshire Tuesday.
“We won every single category in New Hampshire,” he said.
Criticized for his use of profanity at recent events, Trump kept it clean Friday and largely avoided jabbing at his rivals, with the exception of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was labeled a “stiff” who is “asleep at the wheel.”
“He’s nothing anyway, he’s not going to go anywhere,” Trump said of Bush, mocking how much money his campaign has spent.
Florida could play a key role in the nomination process and is a must-win for home state candidates Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, but Trump is leading in the polls and has been a frequent visitor, with earlier rallies in Sarasota, Pensacola and Jacksonville.
“I love Florida,” Trump said, adding: “By the way I’ve spent a lot of money in Florida; nobody else has.”
The candidate pointed to his purchase of Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, noting “a lot of people work there, a lot of Florida people, a lot of Hispanics are working there.”
“I’ve employed thousands and thousands of Hispanics,” Trump added.
Minutes earlier Trump led a chant of “Build that wall” and later went on an extended riff about forcing Mexico to pay for a wall on the border, one of his campaign’s signature promises.
Mexico’s former president recently called that suggestion “stupid” and labeled Trump “completely crazy.”
Informed of those comments, Trump said his reaction was: “The wall just got 10 feet higher.” The line generated the loudest applause of the night.
“We are so tired of being pushed around by these other countries like we’re a bunch of dummies,” Trump continued, turning to another nation he frequently invokes as a symbol of American decline: China.
“Right now we’ve got political hacks” negotiating trade deals with China, Trump said. “These Chinese, they’re trained from the time they’re three years old to be killers.”
Throughout, Trump boasted of his skills as a negotiator and deal maker. That image is a big reason why Steve Insolia is supporting the candidate.
Insolia, 62, and his partner Donna Ferrante, 59, of Holiday came to the event wearing Trump’s signature trucker-style hat bearing the slogan “Make America Great Again.”
The couple own a cleaning service and never paid attention to politics until Trump came along. They like his business background and that his campaign is largely self-funded, but the real attraction is his larger-than-life persona.
“He’s a winner,” Insolia said.
Clearwater accountant Shannon Evans, 35, has a much different view of Trump.
Evans was among dozens of protesters outside the arena who labeled Trump a racist, pointing to his suggestion that Muslims be banned from entering the country and his comments about undocumented immigrants. Carrying her 2-year-old son in one arm, Evans held up a sign with the other reading: “Muslims were on the Santa Maria! Where were you?”
“It’s surreal that he’s putting that hate talk out there,” Evans said. “I can’t believe this is what our world is coming to.”
Trump said the problems European countries are experiencing with Syrian refugees vindicate his comments about Muslims.
“The crime in Sweden, Sweden!” Trump said. “Sweden doesn’t have problems.”
Trump largely reiterated what he’s been saying for months at the Tampa rally and there were few surprises. If anything, he seemed somewhat less combative than usual, a sign he may be trying to broaden his appeal as the GOP nomination contest wears on and the general election gets closer.
“This is a message of optimism, a lot of optimism,” Trump said. “I don’t see any negativity to it.”
