‘JAW-DROPPING’: THOUSANDS LINE UP IN COLD for President Trump Rally in Missoula, Montana – Photos and Video (Update: Cars Abandoned as Attendees Walk for Miles to Rally)

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A veteran reporter who has covered many Trump rallies said of the scene, “My jaw dropped at the long, long lines of people and cars.” (Update at end from another reporter on scene: Cars abandoned on side of the road four deep, people walking miles to get to rally.)

Thousands of supporters lined up in the cold in Missoula, Montana, before dawn Thursday morning for a campaign rally by President Donald Trump set to start at 6:30 p.m. MDT. Photos and video taken throughout the day show long lines of bundled up supporters. In the afternoon long lines of cars could be seen backed up trying to get to the off-site parking lots for the rally being held at the Minuteman Aviation hangar at Missoula International Airport. Rally attendees are being bused from the parking lots to the hangar.

Trump is expected to speak with the mountains and Air Force One lending a cinematic backdrop for the rally in support of Republican  candidate Matt Rosendale, who is running against incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Tester. Rosendale was elected the state Auditor in 2016 after previous elections to the state House and Senate.

An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 were expected at the rally, but that appears to be a huge underestimate. One relatively late arrival filmed the line of people and cars Thursday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/JeffAllen_1/status/1053023884394487808

Phil Drake, Helena bureau reporter for Great Falls Tribune, wrote of his awe at the size of the turnout for Trump, “I am being bused to the rally site. My jaw dropped at the long, long lines of people and cars.”

Earlier, Drake had reported on the long lines just to use the bathrooms (porta-potties) an the off-site parking, “Lines for bathroom are so long at Trump rally that one man shouts out that you need to make your mind up an hour before that you have to go.”

Drake mentioned he has covered many Trump rallies, “I have been to so many Trump rallies that I now know the playlist. I can’t wait for “My Way,” my favorite.”

This video report by KPAX-TV sets the scene:

Another view of the line by NBCMT’s Darren Winberg.

Jeremy Moorhead with CNN captured the line around 10:30 a.m.

And at 1 p.m.

The end of the line in the far distance around 2:40 p.m. MDT.

School buses being used to shuttle attendees to the rally hangar.

Drake posted photos of rally attendees.

UPDATE: Video from press riser taken two-and-half hours before the scheduled 6:30 p.m. MDT start shows the bleachers and front of the hangar already filling in.

Second update: Troy Shockley, News Director at KCAP, reported cars were abandoned on the side of the road four deep with attendees walking miles to get to the rally.

Shockley made it:

And he notes there is an overflow space.

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Kristinn Taylor
Kristinn Taylor has contributed to The Gateway Pundit for over ten years. Mr. Taylor previously wrote for Breitbart, worked for Judicial Watch and was co-leader of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com. He studied journalism in high school, visited the Newseum and once met David Brinkley.

You can email Kristinn Taylor here, and read more of Kristinn Taylor's articles here.