HARTFORD--Just 11 days before Connecticut voters head to the polls to nominate their parties' candidates, the Republican front-runner made a pit stop in Hartford to rally supporters.
Donald Trump made a 35-minute speech at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on Friday in front of a crowd of thousands.
He also spoke to FOX 61's Jeevan Vittal one-on-one about the issues facing our state, and what's coming up in the election.
Trump is trying to gain last-minute voters in an attempt to win 50 percent of the Republican vote in the primary, and win each Congressional district. If he does that successfully, then he will gain 28 much-needed delegates to prevent what some have predicted may be an open convention.
Supporters began lining up to hear the candidate as early as 8:30 a.m. on Friday, and the crowds started picking up after 2 p.m. as the line to get in snaked around the block.
In the end, about 1,000 were left standing outside when police decided to close the doors a few minutes into his speech.
About 6,000 to 7,000 made it inside to hear him talk, according to Hartford Police Deputy Chief Brian Foley, and FOX 61 counted six hecklers that were ejected from the theater. No arrests were made inside or outside the event.
Protesters were also in abundance throughout the evening. The first ones started showing up around 3:30 p.m., and by 6 they were organized into chants while holding signs.
And then as supporters filed out of the Convention Center once Trump left the building, the protests picked up, with supporters and protesters clashing.
