ROCHESTER, Minn. _ President Donald Trump predicted a "very big surprise" in Minnesota in the upcoming midterm elections as he urged Republicans gathered here Thursday to support candidates who will back his agenda.
"This is supposed to be a Democrat state. ... I don't think so," Trump said to loud cheers. He narrowly lost Minnesota in 2016, and the state has a number of competitive, high-dollar congressional elections this year that could determine whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress next year.
"I need your vote. I need your support to stop radical Democrats and to elect proud Minnesota Republicans," the president said, clearly relishing the opportunity to dive back into campaign mode. Electing Democrats, he warned, would create "a nightmare of gridlock, chaos and, frankly, crime."
Escalating a full-bore blast at Democrats in remarks that lasted 70 minutes, he called them "truly the party of crime."
The speech at Rochester's Mayo Civic Center drew a capacity crowd of 10,000, with at least 1,000 to 2,000 more watching on giant screens outside, according to city officials. Huge crowds thronged outside many hours before the rally started, while hundreds marched nearby in protest of Trump's visits. Minnesota Democrats, some of whom ended up on the receiving end of Trump's insults, used the president's visit as a draw for their own get-out-the-vote efforts.
Diane Nagel, a 67-year-old retiree from Owatonna, participated in a protest march hours before Trump took the stage _ her first time joining a political demonstration, she said. Nagel said she once voted for Republicans but could no longer do so under Trump.
"The Republican Party has changed a lot," Nagel said. "It's gotten really far right."
Inside the arena, Trump quickly moved through numerous subjects. As the Senate prepares to vote on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump called him "one of the most respected people." Democrats, the president said, "are trying to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh from the very first second he was announced."
He also launched an attack on Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, bringing her opponent Karin Housley on stage to speak for a moment and saying that "nobody ever heard of" Smith. Earlier in the day, Smith tweeted about Trump's visit.
"Hope he doesn't get too comfortable. We may be 'nice' in Minnesota but when people like him attack us and our values, we rise up, we fight hard, and we don't back down," Smith tweeted. She also sent out a fundraising appeal after Trump's speech, citing his attack.
Trump also took a shot at Al Franken, Smith's Democratic predecessor, who resigned from the Senate in January after accusations of sexual misconduct. Trump called Franken "a wacky guy" who folded "like a wet rag."
Trump summoned two other congressional candidates to the stage. Second District Rep. Jason Lewis spoke for several minutes as the president stood by. Lewis was followed by Jim Hagedorn, who's running in southern Minnesota's First District. Rochester is the district's largest city.
Trump aimed criticism at Democrat Dan Feehan, Hagedorn's opponent. "He wants to make Minnesota _ true _ a sanctuary for the criminal aliens." Of Democrat Angie Craig, running against Lewis, the president said, "Who the hell is Angie Craig?"
"A vote for Dan Feehan and Angie Craig is a vote for Nancy Pelosi," Trump said, referring to the California Democrat in line to become House speaker if her party takes control of the House.
Trump also revisited a longstanding peeve: NFL players who kneel during the national anthem. Hillary Clinton, he said, wouldn't have called drug companies and asked them to lower prices. That prompted chants of "lock her up" by the crowd.
"We're standing up for your values, we're standing up for Minnesota and we are standing proudly for our national anthem" he said, setting off another long round of cheers.
Several protesters were hauled out by police officers as Trump spoke; he did not comment on their exits. Rochester officials said one individual was arrested for a threat to the president and was also resisting arrest for trespassing; the Secret Service is investigating, the official said.
After waiting hours to get inside and hours more inside, the crowd erupted when Trump emerged just after 6:30 p.m. His backdrop was a giant U.S. flag flanked by signs reading "Promises Made" and "Promises Kept."
Citing improvements to the economy, his support for the Second Amendment, veterans and the military, Trump said that Democrats "want to take it all away. They want to destroy our prosperity."
Jeff Johnson, the Republican candidate for governor, went after his opponent, Tim Walz, of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The loudest crowd reaction came when he said he would allow Walz to make Minnesota a sanctuary state "over my dead body."
Housley was greeted with roars of approval when she said that "the far left" must be prevented from impeaching Trump and denying Kavanaugh a Supreme Court seat.
Other GOP candidates were arrayed behind the stage.
Earlier in the afternoon, a large crowd of protesters marched through downtown Rochester holding Trump balloons and signs that read "I am greater than fear" and "remember to vote."
The group stopped downtown, one block away from Trump supporters lined up outside the civic center, and chanted "white, black or brown, all are welcome in our town." Rochester police estimated about 500 people were involved in the march.
While the protests passed close by, Trump supporters in line were urged to not engage. Recorded messages warned people in the crowd not to touch protesters but to instead surround them and chant "Trump, Trump, Trump" until they could be removed.
"It's history" is how John Gordon,60, described why he drove from Ellendale, Minn., for the rally. "I just want to hear what he's got to say."
Once inside the hall, supporters had a long wait before the rally started. Willa Dailey, chairwoman of the Blue Earth County Republican Party, said she was looking forward to hearing from a president who has exceeded her expectations.
"To have the opportunity to be right there with the leader of the free world, it's a big deal and it wouldn't matter who it was, it's a big deal," said Dailey, 62. "It just happens to be somebody I like very much.
Three local groups organized the rally and march to counter Trump's message.
"That's not who Minnesota is," Regina Mustafa, 38, of Rochester Community Interfaith Dialogue, one of the organizers. "We're greater than fear."
Alenna Bolin, 59, of Rochester took off work for her first political demonstration.
"I always thought that protests were for young people but I'm here," said Bolin, an attorney.
Outside, the crowd of Trump supporters broke out into a chant of "Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh!" Protester Garlyn Brentner, 27, of Rochester carried a neon green sign that read "Stand with Dr. Ford," a reference to Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of an attempted sexual assault while they were both high school students.
"Women need to be believed," said Brentner, who works in child care.
Before the stop in Rochester, Trump swung through the Twin Cities for a private Republican fundraiser benefiting the party's congressional candidates. Trump last appeared in Minnesota at a June 20 roundtable and rally in Duluth.
Fairmont resident Cheryl Ortega, 43, got in line in Rochester at 5:15 a.m. "I just wanted to come and see the president. He fights for the people," she said.
Dennis Post's daughter and grandchildren saved him a place in line so he could finish morning chores at his dairy farm in Mazeppa, Minn.
"He's our guy," Post, 62, said. "He's making good on his promises."
