A line that snaked back and forth outside the Wildwood Convention Center continued to grow early Tuesday as hundreds and hundreds of people from across New Jersey and other states joined to stand in the biting Jersey Shore cold for hours for a chance to see President Donald Trump.
Bundled up in sleeping bags, hats and gloves, and sitting on folding chairs many of them planned to toss later, the crowd — which started to form Sunday afternoon — quickly grew to a few thousand people trying to be among those admitted inside to see Trump speak tonight.
The line had grown to more than 2,500 by 9 a.m. Only about 7,500 people are expected to be admitted inside this afternoon for Trump’s 7 p.m. speech.
“This is historic,” said Karen Swann, of Cape May. “Even if you do not support Trump, this is a historical event. But I am a Trump fan, so this is awesome.”
Trump is bringing his “Keep America Great” rally to the resort city to endorse Rep. Jeff Van Drew, whose 2nd district includes Wildwood in Cape May County. Van Drew switched to the Republican party and pledged his support to Trump late last year.
Van Drew said 100,000 people requested tickets to the rally, which the Trump campaign was giving out for free. However, that figure could not be independently verified and the campaign would not confirm how many tickets were distributed.
Anyone who is not admitted inside the convention center on the boardwalk will be able to view the rally on a large screen already set up in Fox Park across the street. Another screen is set up in the parking lot.
Those still planning to come to the rally are being advised by police to come through North Wildwood by taking the Garden State Parkway to exit 6. Many people were struggling to find parking Tuesday morning, with some vendors selling parking spots for $50 or $60.
The first person in line was Duke Reale, a retired carpenter from Galloway in Atlantic County. He had been sleeping in the convention center parking lot since Sunday to ensure he got a spot at his first Trump rally.
“We’re here to support our president and we’re tired of everyone bashing on him and his family,” Reale said. “He’s a good man and he’s doing great things for our country. From Wall Street to Main Street this country is doing great.”
Saundra Kiczenski, of Michigan, was the second person in line. She said she drove 350 miles to Detroit, took a flight to Fort Myers, Florida, then boarded another flight to Atlantic City to secure her spot in line Monday.
She slept on the ground outside the convention center with blankets brought over by staff from a nearby hotel.
“It was really cold,” said Kiczenski, 40, a retail merchandising clerk.
But it will all be worth it to see Trump, she said.
“He’s not a politician," Kiczenski said. "He says what he thinks right out loud. He’s kept more promises than he has made.”
Hundreds more people were streaming into Wildwood early Tuesday morning, joining the line and preparing for an all-day wait.
“I’m here because I want my kids to be free,” said John Hogan, a corrections officer from New York who filed into line shortly after 5:30 a.m. “We got some bad people in our politics. Trump is the only one standing up for freedom. End of story."
People passed the time in line buying political buttons from vendors and food from carts set up on the perimeter of the area. By 10:30 a.m., Fox Park had nearly filled up with people hoping to get inside the convention center. Some were waiting in roped off lanes, hoping to get into the main line outside the venue.
Despite the slim odds that they would make it inside, many in line said they were happy to be there.
Doors to the convention center are expected open at 3 p.m. The rally itself will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m, with President Trump scheduled to speak at 7 p.m.
People wait in line to enter the Wildwoods Convention Center for President Donald Trump’s “Keep America Great Rally” in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comTim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for
Staff writers Kelly Heyboer, Jessica Remo and John Shabe contributed to this report.
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