Trump declares ‘silent majority’ is back

Declaring that “the silent majority is back,” Donald Trump was anything but quiet as held a rally Friday night that was moved from a Mobile, Ala., arena to a football stadium to accommodate a larger-than-expected crowd.

Taking to the podium, the Republican presidential front-runner said he knew “how Billy Graham felt” as he gave an animat- ed speech to the crowd in 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Boasting of his position atop so many polls, Trump said he would like “to have the election tomorrow.”

During the height of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon sought the backing of the “silent majority,” widely considered to be Americans who stood behind the Republican president and who weren’t getting the attention that protesters attracted. Trump has derided elected officials and cast his candidacy as an outsider’s bid.

Trump was welcomed by an array of Alabama politicians, including Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, who praised him for the attention he’s drawn to immigration issues. Trump drew loud cheers when he repeated his promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hundreds of people lined up hours before Trump’s arrival, eager to see and hear the television star bring his message to the Deep South.

“Donald Trump is telling the truth and people don’t always like that,” said Donald Kidd, a 73-year-old retired pipe welder from Mobile. “He is like George Wallace, he told the truth. It is the same thing.”