Trump Stump hits Mobile, Ala

Our reporter Jeremy Morrison attended Donald Trump’s rally in Mobile, Ala. We will have his full article in the Aug. 27 issue, but here are a few nuggets:

Like most Trump appearances, the candidate’s rally in Mobile amounted to a wild, freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness propelled ride through a range of terrain.

He opened with the tried-and-true territory of immigration: “We’re going to build a wall!”

Then swerved to Hillary’s email woes: “I’m not sure she’s making it to the gate.”

Trump discussed his Southern appeal: “We’re leading in Florida. We’re leading big in Florida. In Florida, we have a governor and a sitting senator and I’m killing them. Explain that.”

He had a laugh about lobbyist: “A guy came up to me and offered me $5 million. I said I don’t want it. Should I rethink that? How about I take his money and in the end I screw him and I don’t do anything with it?”

He poked Jeb Bush in the eye with a stick: “Let’s assume somebody else becomes president. A very low energy person. So low energy, every time you watch him you fall asleep. Let’s say Jeb becomes president. Not good.”

Trump also touted his business and negotiating prowess: “We will have unbelievable deals.”

As well as his qualifications in general: “I do know what I’m doing and I don’t say that in a braggadocios way.”

Dipped into international politics: “Right now we have a problem where North Korea is getting frisky.”

And thumped his chest about national defense: “You know what I’d do really great? Military. I am the toughest guy. I will rebuild our military. It will be so powerful and so great that we’ll never have to use it. Nobody will mess with us, folks.”

At some point during Trump’s delivery, a woman waded forward toward the candidate with a copy of his 1987 book “The Art of the Deal.” Being his second favorite book of all time, he autographed the copy.

“As much as I love ‘The Art of the Deal,’ it’s not even close,” Trump said. “We take the Bible all the way.”

Throughout the speech, Trump appeared fully aware of the adoration, noting his “amazing reception” into politics.

“In fact,” Trump held up his impressive lead in the polls to the crowd in Mobile, “if this were another country, perhaps we could call for an expedited election. Can we do that? I’d like to have the election tomorrow. I don’t want to wait.”