ROCHESTER – President Donald Trump predicted a "very big surprise" in Minnesota in the upcoming mid-term elections, urging Republicans meeting in Rochester to support candidates who would support his agenda.

"It's supposed to be a democratic state. … I do not think so, "said President Donald Trump on Thursday, who was leading a campaign rally, announcing a" very big surprise "on November 6th.

"I need your vote. I need your support to stop radical democrats and elect the proud Republicans of Minnesota, "Trump said. The election of Democrats, he warned, would create "a nightmare of blockage, chaos and, frankly, crime."

Escaping the Democrats with full force, he called them "truly the party of crime".

While the Senate is preparing to vote on the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court, Trump has described him as "one of the most respected people, hopefully the judge of the United States." the Kavanaugh Supreme Court. " The Democrats, said the president, "are trying to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh, from the first second it has been announced."

As he often does, Trump told reporters and said, "If we could get them on our side, we would win for 1,000 years." He launched an attack on Democratic Senator Tina Smith, bringing her opponent Karin Housley on scene, speak for a moment and say that "no one has ever heard of" Smith.

At the beginning of his speech, a protester was taken away by police officers; Trump did not seem to notice.

After waiting hours before entering the Civic Center Mayo and before his arrival, the crowd broke when Trump appeared shortly after 6:30 pm. It was set against a backdrop of a giant American flag flanked by signs saying "Promises Made" and "Promises Hold".

Supporters raised placards with messages such as "FINISH THE WALL" and some posters calling for allegations of domestic violence against US Representative Keith Ellison, Democratic candidate for the post of Attorney General: "#ByeByeKeith".

Citing improvements to the economy, his support for the second amendment, veterans and the military, Trump said the Democrats "want to eliminate everything. They want to destroy our prosperity. "

Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, was the first to speak at a rally before Trump arrived.

Jeff Johnson, the Republican candidate for governorship, has attacked his DFL opponent, Tim Walz. The crowd's reaction was the strongest when he said he would allow Walz to make Minnesota the sanctuary state "on my corpse".

Housley was greeted with screams of approval when she said that it was necessary to prevent "the far left" from preventing Trump and denying Kavanaugh a seat on the Supreme Court.

Other candidates, including Republican Jim Hagedorn, who ran for the US First District seat, including Rochester, lined up behind the scenes.

Several hours before the speech, huge crowds gathered in front of the Mayo civic center, while hundreds of people walked nearby to protest the president's visit.

"I just want to come see the president. He is fighting for the people, "said Cheryl Ortega, 43, of Fairmont, who was lining up at 5:15. John Gordon, of Ellendale, described the atmosphere: is history, "said Gordon, 60, who works at The Glass Company. "I just want to hear what he has to say."

The civic center with a capacity of 10,000 people was full for the rally, and many others left to watch the talk on giant screens outside.

In the early afternoon, Trump's rally to begin at 6:30 pm, a crowd of protesters marched through downtown Rochester holding balloons that looked like Trump, and signs saying "I'm more than the fear "and" remember to vote ".

The group stopped in the city center, a block away from Trump supporters lined up in front of the civic center, and chanted "White, black or brown, they are welcome in our city". Rochester police estimated that about 500 people were involved in the march.

"The Republican Party has changed a lot. It has become really very fair, "said Diane Nagel, a 67-year-old retiree from Owatonna, who said it was her first event.

While demonstrations were taking place nearby, Trump supporters online were asked not to engage. Just before noon, an announcement from the AP sounded outside the Civic Center. He warned people in the crowd not to touch protesters but to surround them and sing "Trump, Trump, Trump" until they can be "suppressed." Then, he began to reproduce excerpts from Trump's past public remarks.

Several vendors sold t-shirts and buttons. "Trump 2020" was a popular seller.

John Gordon explained why he left Ellendale, Minnesota, to be part of the crowd. "I just want to hear what he has to say." Gordon, 60, works at an Owatonna glass manufacturing company.

Once in the hall, the supporters waited a long time before the start of the rally. Willa Dailey, president of the Blue Earth County Republican Party, said she was eager to hear a president who exceeded her expectations.

"Having the opportunity to rub shoulders with the leader of the free world, it's a big problem and no matter who he was, it's a big problem," said Dailey, 62. to love a lot.

Three local groups organized the rally and march to counter Trump's message.

"We have to do something positive that did not attract the people who came here to support him," said Regina Mustafa, 38, of Rochester Community Interfaith Dialogue, one of the organizers. "It's not who's Minnesota. We are bigger than fear. "

Alenna Bolin, 59, of Rochester, left work Thursday. It was also his first participation in a political protest.

"I've always thought the protests were aimed at young people, but I'm here," said Bolin, a lawyer. "I think a lot of people are dismayed by what's going on in the White House. Just when you think it can not get worse, that's the case. "

The drama this week in Washington after Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court of British Columbia also echoed in the streets of Rochester. At times, the crowd of Trump supporters sang a song of "Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh!" Protester Garlyn Brentner, 27, of Rochester was wearing a neon green sign saying "stay with Dr. Ford".

"You have to believe women," said Brentner, who works in child care.

Rochester is the largest city in the first congressional district where Republican Jim Hagedorn is running against Democrat Dan Feehan for the seat vacated by US Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for the governorship. Trump's visit is supposed to give a boost to Hagedorn's campaign as he tries to pick a district that fought for Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Before stopping in Rochester, Trump toured the twin cities for a private fundraiser of Republicans for the benefit of party party candidates.

Trump appeared for the last time in Minnesota at a round table and demonstration in Duluth. At that rally, he had predicted that he would be taking Minnesota to the 2020 presidential election after losing it short of Clinton in 2016.

Cheryl Ortega, 43, is in line at 5:15 pm "I just wanted to see the president," she said. "He's fighting for the people." She's from Fairmont.

Dennis Post's daughter and grandchildren arranged for her to be in line so that she could finish the morning work at her dairy farm in Mazeppa, Minnesota.

"This is our guy," said Post, 62. "He keeps his promises."

Associate Editor Greg Stanley contributed to this report.