Empty chairs at Trump rally: Is it the weather, or something else?
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a campaign rally on Monday in Waterloo, Iowa. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
WATERLOO, Iowa — It was, as Donald Trump might say, a “low energy” event.
When the Republican frontrunner took the stage here at the first of two final rallies in the hours before Iowans head to caucus, Trump was greeted by rows of empty chairs and a crowd that seemed smaller and less raucous than audiences at his other events here in recent days. Part of it may have had to do with the weather, which included icy roads and dense fog so thick that Trump joked he might have to “get the hell out of here” early to make the next event in Cedar Rapids because he couldn’t fly.
“No, no, no, I’ll stay,” he said.
Still, Trump, who seemed exhausted, tried to rev up the crowd as best he could — with varying success. He urged supporters to turn out for him Monday night, to help him begin what he described as a “revolution” to claim the Republican nomination and ultimately the White House. “It’s crunch time,” he said again and again.
Some seats remain empty while Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Waterloo, Iowa. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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In his characteristically rambling stump speech, Trump made vague last-minute appeals to almost every single one of Iowa’s voting demographics — promising that he’ll turn around the economy, stop attacks from ISIS and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. But he gave a special shoutout to evangelical voters, saying nobody had been “nicer” to him since he kicked off his campaign. “I think the evangelicals really get me,” Trump said.
While Trump said he expected to have a “good night,” he also acknowledged the unknowns of his campaign heading into Monday’s vote. Though he leads many polls and has long attracted big crowds, Trump admitted that none of that matters if people don’t turn out to caucus for him. He needed more than “fans,” he told the audience here.
Buzz Anderson of Waterloo, Iowa, shows his American flag tie following the Trump rally on Monday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
“The more people that turn out, the better we are going to do,” he said.
“Thankfully,” he said, the anticipated blizzard would likely not hit until after caucus time. But he said people had no other excuses not to turn out. “If you are in bed, if you’re sick, if you can’t walk,” it doesn’t matter, he said. “You have to go out tonight and caucus.”
Still, Trump spoke fondly of the campaign so far. He told the crowd he had been moved by how much people cared about their country, especially in Iowa.
“Win, lose or draw, I love you all,” he said.
