Seeking to reassure voters after a shaky week, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made two stops in the critical "I-4 Corridor" region of Central Florida on Wednesday.
After a midday campaign stop in Ocala, Trump spoke to a large crowd of supporters at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport around 4 p.m.
- Donald Trump visited Ocala, Lakeland on Wednesday
- Approximately 17K combined supporters attended the events
- Florida Decides: How Floridians fit into the election
In Ocala, thunderous cheers from the nearly 10,000 in attendance greeted the candidate. Almost immediately, he went on the attack against his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.
"We are going to cut taxes big league. 'Crooked Hillary' is going to raise taxes," Trump told the crowd at Rowan Agricultural Complex in Ocala, where the line to get in started forming before 6 a.m.
Trump's brash style is what brought out twin sisters Nora Keuhn and Cora Frontin, who call themselves the "Trump Twins." They said his style is the reason they believe he'll fight for them and the country if he makes it to the White House.
Their loyalty didn't waver after the release last week of audio of a lewd conversation about women between Trump and Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.
"I think the women are asking for it. After all, he was a TV celebrity, and the women that followed him are just asking for what they get," Frontin said.
Added her sister: "I'm supporting him all the way."
Not all Trump supporters in Ocala on Wednesday agreed.
"It's not acceptable. But you know, it's like they say, all the guys that say they never heard that kind of talk -- they've never been in the locker room," Wayne Reinig said.
"In 27 days, we're going to win Florida and we're going to win back the White House," Trump said to cheers.
I-4 Corridor visits by candidates
On to Lakeland
By 3 o'clock Wednesday, thousands had turned out for the Lakeland rally. Supporters had to stand because it was held at a tarmac at the airport.
"This election is a simple choice," he told the Lakeland. "It's a choice about putting our faith in a corrupt establishment or putting our faith in you the american people."
During the hour-long rally, trump targeted Clinton. Focusing partly on the email scandal that has rocked her campaign – he reiterated his promise for a special prosecutor to look into Clinton’s actions. He called Clinton a political ‘insider.’
He said he’s the only one that could fix this mess.
Meanwhile, around 20 protestors remained outside, sharing why they thought Hillary Clinton was the better candidate.
They had signs calling Donald Trump a con man and a pervert. One even brought a boom box, which played Donald Trump’s lewd comments about women over and over for the crowd to hear.
"He's a con-man. He's obviously a pervert. And it's insane that we would even be considering him for president of this great country,” said Mary Scanlon, a Hillary Clinton supporter.
Many protesting outside said they couldn’t resist the opportunity to share why Donald Trump should not be in the White House.
"I voted for Reagan, Bush twice, Dole, McCain and there is no way in hell I'd vote for Donald Trump," said South Miami Vice Mayor Bob Welsh.
Trump's Central Florida visits this week are part of a three-city swing through the state.