A star-studded slate of leaders from Marion County and surrounding Florida counties headlined the lead-in to President Donald Trump’s speech during Friday’s rally.
The afternoon featured speeches from a bevy of Republican candidates and Congress members, each making their own case for “four more years” of the current administration.
“In 18 days, Florida is going to go dark, dark red. We are going to elect Donald Trump for at least four more years,” said Joe Harding, candidate for Florida House of Representatives District 22. “There’s no Joe Biden Democratic Party that’s going to take our guns.”
Before leaving the stage, Harding led the crowd in a rendition of “God Bless America.”
“We are worried about this ultra liberal left, all those folks back there with those fancy cameras,” said Kat Cammack, Republican candidate for Florida’s 3rd congressional district. Cammack went on to encourage the crowd in a “CNN sucks” chant.
“Oh go ahead, don’t let me stop you. This is why I’m so proud of my hometown and my home district. Y’all just tell it like it is,” said Cammack.
“Only in Donald Trump’s America do we put faith over fear,” said Cammack. “To Mr. Beto O’Rourke, as a member of the NRA, and a concealed carry permit holder, hell no you’re not going to take our guns.”
After Cammack left the stage, congressmen Matt Gaetz, Mike Waltz and Neil Dunn took the stage.
“You all are smart because you’re from horse country, right? You know that Donald J. Trump is a thoroughbred. It is past time to send Joe Biden out to pasture,” said Gaetz.
Waltz, who represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues.
“The left wants to take your money, take your guns, take your healthcare and take your schools.”