‘We are going to win, win, win.’ Trump rallies Kentuckians for Barr

Congressman+Andy+Barr+and+President+Donald+Trump+exit+the+stage+together+during+the+make+America+great+again+rally+on+Saturday%2C+Oct.+13%2C+2018+at+Alumni+Coliseum+in+Richmond%2C+Ky.+Photo+by+Jordan+Prather+%7C+Staff

Congressman Andy Barr and President Donald Trump exit the stage together during the make America great again rally on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 at Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Ky. Photo by Jordan Prather | Staff

Jacob Eads

It was all about protecting “Kentucky values” Saturday night as President Donald Trump and a slew of incumbent Republicans joined a coliseum of hollering Kentuckians for a campaign rally in the heart of the Bluegrass.

President Trump’s campaign stop in Richmond was a crucial one just weeks before Republican Congressman Andy Barr is set to square off against Ret. Lt. Col. Amy McGrath for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District seat in the general election.

Saturday night, Trump and many of Kentucky’s top Republicans set out to tip the Nov. 6 vote in Barr’s favor by wooing thousands of elated fans at Eastern Kentucky University’s Alumni Coliseum.

“Two years ago, the people of Madison County delivered a huge victory to Donald Trump,” Barr said of Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory in Kentucky. “When he talks about making America great again, he’s talking about you.”

And some of those in Central Kentucky certainly take those words to heart.

“We’re so thrilled that the President, our governor, our two senators and our congressman are here – I mean, we’ve gone beyond the trifecta, or whatever they call this at Keeneland,” said Lexington resident and avid Trump supporter Karen Breier.

Trump and Barr toted a long list of Republican leaders behind them tonight, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Governor Matt Bevin and Senator Rand Paul.

Republican supporters were lined up in Saturday’s frigid temperatures as early as 8 a.m., just clamoring for a chance to experience a “Make America Great Again” rally.

While Alumni Coliseum can hold about 6,500 people, there wasn’t nearly enough room inside to stuff all of the eager supporters who braved the chilly October weather. The building quickly reached its capacity, leaving hundreds to watch the rally on big screens in the arena’s parking lot.

Once the event officially kicked off, there was no shortage of cheers and chants as Trump stumped for Barr and the rest of his party.

“To continue the greatest movement in the history of our country, or maybe any country, you need to vote Republican,” said Trump. “On Nov. 6 I need you to get your friends, get your family, get your neighbors and your coworkers and get out and vote for Andy Barr.”

But campaigning for Barr wasn’t the only thing Trump did tonight. Before leaving out on Air Force One, he made sure to tout his own successes just two years into his own presidency.

Perhaps no bigger cheer came from the night’s crowd then when Trump mentioned the recent confirmation of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who spent the better part of the last weeks being questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee following allegations of sexual misconduct in his youth.

Trump said that a vote for Republicans this November would mean that they would “continue to confirm incredible pro-constitution judges, not radical, far-left judges who will rewrite your constitution and replace your Kentucky values.”

Trump also endeared the crowd with each mention of his immigration policies and his border wall intended to stop illegal immigration from Mexico.

“These people came in by the thousands, and we’re taking them out by the thousands,” Trump said. “Republicans believe our country should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not criminal aliens. Republicans stand proudly with the heroes of ICE.”

Tonight, it was also evident that Central Kentucky’s voters, along with Trump, are putting a premium on jobs. Trump’s captive crowd exploded each time he mentioned adding jobs to the Kentucky workforce.

Before he signed off, Trump did admit that Barr has a “tough” race ahead of him, as Democratic nominee McGrath sets her sights on his seat. While this is McGrath’s first time running for office, she has chosen to rely on her extensive career as a Marine fighter pilot to carry her into the winner’s circle.

Both Barr and Trump elicited substantial yells from tonight’s crowd when each said that McGrath was “too liberal for Kentucky”.

“The only reason to vote Democrat is if you’re tired of winning. You all know about winning…those horses win. I’m just worried Kentucky is winning too much,” said Trump.

While Barr’s campaign flexed some major muscle Saturday by calling in the reinforcement of the President, McGrath proved she could do the same just a day before when she hosted former Vice President Joe Biden for a fish fry in Bath County.

But that didn’t seem to bother Trump or Barr.

Trump capped off the night’s festivities by ensuring the sea of red “MAGA” hats in the audience that Andy Barr is his choice for congressman.

“For the sake of our freedom, and for the sake of our children, we are going to work. We are going to fight, and we are going to win, win, win,” Trump said.