Trump draws massive crowd to Rock Hill despite slim Senate race

The Rock Hill Sports & Events Center in South Carolina typically sees light traffic before dawn. On Thursday morning, however, the area was packed with supporters waiting for President Donald Trump.

The president visited the town to campaign for Darline Graham, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate. She is currently in a tight race against Democratic challenger Annie Andrews.

By 8 a.m., dozens of people were lined up outside the venue. The crowd moved past vendors selling campaign merchandise. Robert, a local seller, displayed hats, pins, and buttons featuring the date of the event. He described the buttons as alibi buttons because they prove attendance on that specific day.

Local businesses adjusted their schedules to capture the early traffic. Downing Riley, owner of Everbowl, an acai bowl and smoothie shop located in the same complex, opened before his usual 9 a.m. start time. He reported increased foot traffic, noting that customers bought oatmeal and other items during the early hours.

The atmosphere was described as festive. Supporters wore Trump T-shirts, sweaters, and headwear. While Graham attended the event, visible merchandise supporting her was scarce compared to items featuring the president.

Several attendees stated they were present to support Trump rather than Graham specifically. Terry Pennington, a Trump supporter from North Carolina, wore a garbage can costume. He referenced a comment by Hillary Clinton calling supporters deplorable garbage. Pennington noted that he does not live in South Carolina and cannot vote in the state election.

Pennington expressed mixed feelings about the party. He said he does not agree with everything the Republican Party does and is not a fan of all Republicans, but he is equally opposed to the Democrats. Other attendees shared similar sentiments regarding their voting intentions.

Michael Curcio drove from Florence at 3 a.m. to attend the rally. He acknowledged that Graham is the sister of Senator Lindsey Graham and expected her to follow in her brother's political footsteps. Curcio said he would likely vote straight Republican ticket because Trump supports Graham, viewing the vote as a way to show support for the president.

A notable absence from the event was U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who represents the 5th district. Norman lost the Republican primary to Graham in August. Rock Hill is his hometown, and many local voters supported his previous bids for the Senate and governor. Norman previously stated that Graham is not the best candidate for him, though he pledged to back her in solidarity with the conservative movement.

Norman's son, Warren, endorsed the Democratic candidate, Annie Andrews. A spokesperson for Norman's office said the congressman was working in Washington on Thursday morning and was not paying close attention to the president's visit to Rock Hill.