DES MOINES — Supporters who were set to attend Donald Trump’s alternate debate-night event were all for the GOP front-runner’s decision to ditch Thursday’s Fox News debate and hold his own event only minutes away.
Trump backers, who waited in a line stretching about a block, said Trump was making a “brave” decision by holding court at Drake University in an event his campaign says is planned to benefit wounded veterans.
“I’m tired of Fox News trying to tell us what to believe and I’m tired of Megyn Kelly trying to sway the voters to what she wants and her agenda,” said Curt Strathman, 66, from Sioux City. “He made a brave move here. I think it was a smart move, and long term I think it will be good. He’s standing up to them and he’s not playing their game.
“I don’t think Donald’s afraid of anybody,” Strathman said about attacks from Sen. Ted Cruz calling Trump “Ducking Donald.” “They say, ‘Oh well he’s afraid of Megyn,’ he’s not afraid of them. He’s making a bold move.”
“I think it’s stupid … I don’t think they should slam each other. It makes them all look bad,” said Franco Tangari, 53, about Cruz’s attacks. “I don’t blame him for not going … For them to say that he’s scared of this Megyn Kelly ’cause he’s not there, I think that’s bullcrap.”
Tangari, a Des Moines resident and a registered Democrat, said that he isn’t looking at any other candidate seriously and that he is leaning toward caucusing for Trump. Others thought Trump’s event was a good move because of the perceived motive: to raise money for veterans.
“I’m OK with it,” said Patrick Malloy, 49, from Indianola. “Because he’s raising money for veterans … I don’t think he’s ducking anything because I don’t think he has a reason to. He’s held up really well in the debates.”
“[I’m here] because I’m a Trump supporter, and he is here,” said Larry Morris, a longtime Republican from West Des Moines. “I think [Cruz’s attack] is just fodder. I think that’s just what you say when you’re debating … It’s another example of when Donald Trump makes up his mind and does what he thinks is the right thing, he’s going to stick by it, no matter what.”
Morris said he picked Trump over the likes of Cruz, pointing to his inability to deal with members of Congress, and Sen. Marco Rubio, who he believes is too inexperienced.
Also joining Trump tonight are fellow presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, both of whom participated in the “undercard” debate earlier in the evening.
