REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Open Door Christian Academy in Lisbon on Friday, touching on familiar themes in his stump speech, including halting the immigration of Syrian refugees and building a wall along the Mexican border. Trump drew applause with a promise to grow the Navy and bring manufacturing jobs back to Maine.
A YOUNGSTER holds a Trump/Pence sign aloft in the gymnasium of Open Door Christian Academy in Lisbon on Friday. Attendees were in generally high spirits before the rally, despite some who had to wait hours in the rain, and the fact that the GOP candidate was running two hours late, having flown in from New Hampshire.
The location of Trump’s fifth visit to the state on Friday was Open Door Christian Academy, where both the school principal and the connected church’s pastor made remarks in support of the GOP nominee.
“This is a wonderful thing,” said Pastor David Garnett, who is related to state Sen. Garrett Mason, who represents Lisbon. “Who would have ever believed that the next president of the United States would be in Lisbon, Maine?
“This is nothing but the providence of God,” he continued. “Somebody bigger than you and I has put this all together. I tell you, things are gonna change. We’re gonna get our country back.”
The pastor ended his remarks with a prayer and by welcoming attendees “to invite Jesus Christ into your life.”
Principal Tim Foster also spoke favorably of Trump, specifically praising his views on school choice.
Trump arrived at the school nearly two hours late, where more than 1,000 supporters welcomed him enthusiastically. Trump attended a rally in New Hampshire earlier Friday, and would go on to campaign in Iowa later that evening.
Trump opened his remarks at Open Door Christian Academy by responding to news that the FBI would be reopening its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
“As you might have heard, earlier today the FBI, after discovering new emails, is reopening their investigation of Hillary Clinton. I have great respect for the FBI for righting this wrong. The American people fully understand her corruption, and we hope all justice will finally be served. This is the biggest political scandal since Watergate, and I’m sure that it will be properly handled from this point forward,” said Trump to deafening cheers from the crowd.
Throughout the course of the rally, the New York businessman touched on government corruption, immigration, ISIS and trade, among other things.
“Maine has lost. What a place though, what a place,” said Trump. “Maine has lost 38 percent of its manufacturing jobs after NAFTA and China trade deals went into effect.”
Trump promised to bring paper and shoe manufacturing jobs back to Maine if he wins in November. Trump also claimed that his plan to grow the Navy would benefit Bath Iron Works.
“My plan builds the 350-ship Navy that we need and everybody requests,” said Trump. “And that means a lot more work for — I’m sure you’ve never heard of this place — Bath Iron Works here in Maine.”
Trump supporters at the rally were united by enthusiasm for Trump — and opposition to Clinton.
“He’s pretty much said everything he needs to convince me,” said Glenn Milliken, who attended the rally with his friend Kam Kross.
“The fact that he’s running against Hillary is the biggest thing. I think she’s a crook. I don’t like her,” said Kross.
“What is there to like about her?” he added. “Y’know? I don’t think anybody has an answer for ‘what do you actually like about her.’ Other than, I think the only way she’s gonna get any real votes from real people is the fact that she’s a girl. Like Obama, only blacks voted for him.”
People in the crowd were skeptical of the polling data available, and hoped that Trump could pull off an upset in spite of opposition.
“The friggin media’s already given the state to Clinton,” said Douglas Foss of Lewiston. “I mean, they already gave her all four electoral votes. Just like they got the superdelegates before the race ever started. I’m hoping he gets the whole state. He has a lot of support in this state.”
Amanda Morris of Lisbon Falls said that she hoped Trump’s vision could push him to victory in Maine’s 2nd District.
“I haven’t seen much support here, but I have folks who live up north and they see signs everywhere for him, so that’s good. I’m hoping him coming here will bring more support in this area.”
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