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Supporters appreciate Trump the entertainer and blunt politician

www.reuters.com

At Grand Rapids DeltaPlex thousands of Donald Trump supporters formed a long line in the pouring rain hours before doors opened. Who are they and what is it that makes GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump appealing?

“Chicks dig The Donald, which we do.”

“My name is Riki Gheller and I am from Flint Michigan.”

She made the long ride in much like Saundra Kiczenski from Sault Ste Marie.

“This is the first time I have ever followed a political campaign ever in my life.”

“The only one I ever liked was Reagan. Now at least we have something fun.”

I ask if Donald Trump is a politician or an entertainer?

“Both. Mostly entertainer. I think most of the people are tired of the political people and they want a political outsider.”

“He isn’t a politician. Both sides are starting to sound the same and we aren’t getting the answers we want. Most of us are afraid now. We want somebody we feel is going to do something.”

Like take on immigration reform. Trumps plan is to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“It’s a little farfetched but you get the message in that message.”

That’s Cliff Washington from Grand Rapids. An undecided Republican.

“The excitement that he generates in general. I think just his persona. It changes the landscape and I think that’s attractive to us.”

The Trump persona displayed on the television show “The Apprentice” that is appealing to a youthful reality TV generation. Ferris State student, Megan Soller, made the hour long drive from Big Rapids.

“I just like how he’s so blunt about what he says. He doesn’t just beat around the bush. He just says exactly what’s on his mind and that’s kind of what I like to hear.”

From the DeltaPlex in Walker, Patrick Center, WGVU News.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.