Whether or not tremendous enthusiasm exists forĀ Donald TrumpĀ everywhere in the country ā or the state ā is a matter for people in those areas to document.
What is clear, however; those who are closest to the Trump campaign in Duval County believe that Trump is getting strong support in Northeast Florida ā¦ support that the polls doesnāt necessarily register.
That enthusiasm and support was evident Tuesday evening at the opening of the Trump Victory Center on Beach Boulevard, where approximately 100 people showed up for pizza, signs, and for what amounted to a pep rally for all things Trump.
Duval GOP chairĀ Cindy GravesĀ told FloridaPolitics.com that last Saturday, volunteers knocked on 10,000 doors, which Graves said was a ārecord for the entire nation.ā
Graves said that enthusiastic ground game is translating to the finance report as well, with ābrand new donors from every walk of life and every industryā ponying up.
The so called ānever Trumpā people, at least in Duval County, are falling behind the nominee also.
Graves spoke of a woman who was of that persuasion in June, but this month she brought 20 other ladies to a āWomen for Trumpā event.
Sen.Ā Aaron Bean, who warmed up the crowd around 6:00, let them know where he saw the effort: one of Duval County being āground zero of saving the country.ā
āI could say āwelcome Patriotsā or āwelcome Deplorables,ā but I would be repeating myself,ā Bean quipped.
When asked about whether the effort was starting too late, as some in the media have suggested, Ben said that āpeople are starting now to pay attention ā¦ people see our country, values, and way of life are at stake.ā
Bean realizes that there is some resistance among some establishment Republicans; when asked aboutĀ G.H.W. BushĀ backing Clinton, as reported widely Tuesday, Bean described that as ādisappointing.ā
When asked about the Republicans supportingĀ Gary Johnson, meanwhile, Bean called that a āmistake,ā saying heās āgot a Hillary sticker to put on their car.ā
Bean sees this, ultimately, as a ārazor thinā election, and in that context, every advantage helps.
One distinct advantage: the selection ofĀ Toney SleimanĀ as āVictory Chairman.ā
Sleiman, a commercial developer and one of the more politically active members of the donor class locally, is all in for Trump.
āEvery shopping center I own,ā said Sleiman, āis going to have Trump signs.ā
In addition to that, Sleiman hosted a meeting between Gov.Ā Rick ScottĀ and local businessmen, where Scott convinced them to lend tangible support to the Trump Train.
Momentum continues for the local Trump effort this weekend.
On Saturday morning, another office will open deep on the Westside of Jacksonville, in the Chaffee Road area.
A special guest at that office opening:Ā Herman Cain, who will feature Saturday evening at a fundraiser for the Republican nominee in Floridaās 5thĀ Congressional District,Ā Glo Smith.
