4400 rally for Trump in Poughkeepsie, New York, Sun., April 17, 2016. Local small business owner who gave up voting after Nixon will return to voting booth for Trump-Times Herald-Record

"He said Trump will bring him back to the voting booth for the first time since the 1970s. "I haven't voted since Nixon. I gave up after him," DiCesare said."

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

4/17/16, Poughkeepsie, NY

Images above, 4/17/16 Trump rally: 1 and 3 from Daily Freeman. 2, 4, 5, and 6 from Times Herald-Record.

4/17/16, "Donald Trump stirs up crowd at Poughkeepsie campaign rally," Times Herald-Record, James Nani, Poughkeepsie, NY

"Billionaire developer Donald Trump condemned the country's political leaders, deals with China, Japan, Mexico and Vietnam and promised to bring back jobs to the nation and region during a rally at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center on Sunday afternoon.

Trump, the front-runner in the GOP presidential primary contest, came on stage just before 3 p.m. after flying in by helicopter while more than 100 protestors chanted outside.

New York's primary is on April 19. 

Trump was met by an adoring crowd of about 4,400 people, who cheered and chanted "USA, USA" as the billionaire ricocheted from topic to topic in his speech, often going on asides for minutes before veering back to issues of national importance. 

Trump began by saying his younger brother, Dutchess County resident Robert Trump, was in the audience - a reminder of the family's New York roots. 

"I have property in your region," Trump said. 

Trump then launched into his stump speech. He condemned the country's leaders who "don't have a clue." He promised to build up the military, and a border wall along Mexico, if he becomes president. He said the decision to go to war in Iraq was "disasterous." 

He also lambasted his opponents. 

He repeatedly called U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, his GOP opponent, "Lying Ted Cruz" to boos from the crowd. He called Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton "crooked" and said he would easily beat her if he wins the GOP nomination. He called U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, also vying for the Democratic nomination, a communist. 

Trump also touched on policy. 

He called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries and the United States, "a disaster." He did the same with the 1990s-era North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, saying it cost the nation, and our region, thousands of jobs. 

"That's why your taxes are so high," Trump said. "We are being led down the drain by people who don't have the country's best interests at heart." 

Trump closed his speech by promising to end federal Common Core educational standards, impose a 35 percent tax on companies that ship jobs out of the country, and he promised to bring jobs back to New York.
 
"We are going to make Poughkeepsie and this whole region vibrant again," Trump said. 

Trump gave a thumbs up, clapped along to the Jock Jams hit "Let's Get Ready to Rumble," then walked off stage. 

Trump was not without his detractors. 

Just outside, about 120 anti-Trump protesters chanted and held banners and signs. They condemned Trump on a wide range of topics that included his comments on illegal Mexican immigrants and his proposal to stop Muslims from entering the country. 

Argelia Morales, a 29-year-old Newburgh resident, said Trump's call to deport illegal immigrants was wrong. 

"It'll just cause more pain and suffering in the community," Morales said. 

Carlos Rivera, a laborer who happened to be walking past the group of protesters outside, said he disagreed with Trump's views. 

"I don't like this guy because he doesn't like Spanish people. Every single day, I work for my kids," Rivera said. 

But Trump's many supporters said what resonated with them was his his blunt candor, business acumen, deal-making chops and financial independence. 

Dan Reid of New Paltz said politicians can't be trusted because of the current campaign finance system. 

"He's the only one who's not bought and paid for," Reid said. "He's a blue-collar billionaire." 

Joe DiCesare, a New Windsor resident who owns an insurance agency in Newburgh, thinks the country needs a businessman in the White House. He said he liked Trump's brash style and the fact that he's largely self-funding his campaign. 

He said Trump will bring him back to the voting booth for the first time since the 1970s. 

"I haven't voted since Nixon. I gave up after him," DiCesare said."

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4/17/16, "Donald Trump enchants Poughkeepsie crowd at rally," dailyfreeman.com, Poughkeepsie, NY, Patricia Doxsey





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