CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two nights after all but securing the GOP nomination with a victory in Indiana’s primary, West Virginia’s Capital City is the next landing spot for Donald Trump.
Trump is slated to hold a campaign rally at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center. Since the Trump campaign announced the news Tuesday night, security preparations have been underway for the event expected to draw over 15,000 people.
“There’s a lot of planning that goes into this,” said Charleston PD special events officer Lt. Scot Blankenship. “We’ve been working hand-in-hand with Secret Service, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Dept. has been gracious enough to help us out with several deputies, as well as several troopers.
Blankenship expected 40 or 50 officers to be on hand at the Civic Center Thursday night. After the Indiana primary, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz dropped out of the race, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich followed suit Wednesday evening. State GOP Chair Conrad Lucas said that makes Thursday’s rally even more exciting.
“This will be one of the first speeches he will have given since he’s become the presumptive nominee,” Lucas said. “I think we’re going to hear a lot of discussion about his general election strategy, how he plans to beat Hillary Clinton and of course Mr. Trump has spread a very pro-coal, pro-energy, pro-jobs message, and I think he’s going to touch on that here.”
Lucas expected Trump would address Clinton’s visit to the Mountain State earlier this week, receiving a warm welcome in Charleston but a rough reception from coal supporters in the Mingo County seat of Williamson.
“I absolutely think he will address it, and I think he’s going to receive a much warmer reception than Clinton did as a direct result of her anti-coal policies and statements,” said Lucas. “Miners in West Virginia spoke very loudly in opposition to her visit, whereas I think Trump is going to be a much friendlier crowd.”
Blankenship said a number of security protocols would be in place Thursday night, so he recommended getting to the rally in plenty of time.
“I would say come early, expect delays. A lot of people travel with a pocket knife and don’t think anything of it. Leave that in the car,” he said. “We’ll have several metal detectors set up. That’s why they’re opening the doors at four, to give everybody plenty of time to get there.”
Part of what has fueled Trump-mania in West Virginia has been his energy and bravado, as well as his support for coal, Lucas said.
“It’s more excitement than I’ve ever seen for any race in my career in politics,” Lucas said. “Our phones ring off the hook every day asking for Trump signs and what they can do to get involved in the Trump campaign. That’s been the environment in West Virginia for several months now. It’s truly a very exciting nominee.”
Trump’s rally is the nightcap of a very busy day of campaigning in the Mountain State ahead of primary day May 10.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is planning three stops Thursday: McDowell County (Kimball) in the morning, South Charleston in the afternoon and an event at the same time as Trump’s rally in Morgantown at 7 p.m.