President Donald Trump Praises Party-Switching New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, Rails Against Impeachment At Wildwood Rally
WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) — Thousands packed the Wildwoods Convention Center for President Donald Trump's rally. Those who couldn't get in watched on giant screens outside.
More than 7,000 pairs of eyes were on the president inside, where nearly every seat was filled at the convention center as the president held his first rally in South Jersey.
The president took to the stage and for about an hour, touted his economic accomplishments, insulted the media and asked for his base's support in 2020.
The rally came on the same day as his Senate impeachment hearing continued in Washington, D.C.
Trump used the trial as a political campaign call for his supporters.
"Congressional Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes, crazy witch hunts and deranged partisan crusades. You see it. Which is worse: The impeachment hoax or the witch hunts from Russia?" Trump asked the crowd.
Perhaps the catalyst behind the rally was newly-minted Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who until late last year, was a Democrat. He represents this part of the state, the 2nd Congressional District, and defected to the GOP in December after casting just one of two Democratic votes against the president's impeachment.
"We are privileged to be joined tonight by a courageous leader who left the Democrat Party because he has had enough of their extremism, enough of their socialism and enough of their vile hoaxes and scams. He's a tireless champ for the state of New Jersey. He loves your 2nd Amendment, which is under siege by the Democrats," Trump said of Van Drew.
After the president, perhaps the second-most recognized person in attendance was Kellyanne Conway, a political adviser and counselor to Trump. Conway is from Camden County and received a huge reaction from the crowd.
"Mr. President, I think South Jersey is Trump country. South Jersey is my home, Donald Trump is my president, Melania Trump is my first lady. Life is great everybody! God bless you!" Conway said to the crowd.
New Jersey is a very liberal state but Trump campaign officials say Van Drew's district tends to be more conservative.
