So, let’s talk campaign strategy. Donald plans a trip to Colorado Springs to cover the grovelling at the Koch donor summit. The Koch event is at the Broadmoor — a beautiful, historic hotel owned by a real billionaire, Phillip Anshutz. But that isn’t a Trump property — can’t book there.
So, he books a hall at Colorado College — a very liberal bastion in the center of bright red country. And WWWAAAYYY many more people show up than the room capacity.
The Hill article here covered it this way:
“So I have to tell you this. This is why our country doesn’t work,” Trump started as soon as he got onto the stage. “We have plenty of space here. We have thousands of people outside trying to get in. And we have a fire marshal that said, ‘Oh we can’t allow more people.’”
Trump explained that the venue had set up an overflow room for the extra supporters who were waiting outside and weren’t let into the main space. He said it was “unfair” to the people at the event not to let them into the main venue.
"And the reason they won’t let them in is because they don’t know what the hell they’re doing,” Trump continued. “Hey, maybe they’re a Hillary person. Could that be possible? Probably. I don’t think there are too many of them.”
The local news, KKTV-13 had a response from the fire marshall:
"There's an old adage that when a fire marshal walks into a room, milk curdles. So because we're always looking out for public safety and trying to make certain venues go off successfully and safely sometimes there are people that aren't very happy with some of the rules and regulations were required to enforce. But it doesn't bother me at all," he said.
The local newspaper, The Gazette, noted here:
UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said the 1,500-person capacity of Gallogly Events Center was included in the contract signed by Trump's campaign. An overflow room was set up in nearby Berger Hall for 1,000 people to watch the speech on television.
"The campaign handled all the ticketing and more tickets were issued than the space available," Shockley-Zalabak said.
A source familiar with the campaign's plans said 10,000 tickets were issued online for the event.
The Gazette also noted Donald’s true compassion and delicacy of language:
Trump went to the overflow room and addressed the crowd. "If you get the worst report that you have diarrhea, if you have one week to live, I don't care. Get out and vote," he said, after his speech. "If everyone gets out and votes, we can't lose."
About the fire marshall? The Hill article notes:
According to the The Gazette, a Colorado Springs newspaper, the fire marshal, Brett Lacey, was named Civilian of the Year in February for his efforts following the November shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic.
Yup, hand out 10,000 tickets to a 1,500 seat hall — all the Fire Marshall’s fault.