30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

A young supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cheers at a pep rally in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday, August 21. Trump brought 30,000 supporters from deep red Alabama to a pep rally in a football stadium, the latest sign that the Republican front-runner has broad, nationwide strength.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

Trump's 757 plane circles the venue as he arrives. Trump flew by the stadium in his private jet shortly before 6 p.m., doing a loop around the arena before landing. The fly-by was announced over the stadium's loudspeaker to cheers.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

People queue in line to wait for the doors to open. The event was previously planned to be held at the nearby Civic Center but was moved to the 43,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium, a venue normally home to high school football games, to accommodate the crowd. The city of Mobile confirmed late Friday that 30,000 people attended.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

The venue was changed from a 4,000-person venue to the football stadium, and attendees gathered as early as 6 a.m. local time.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

A Trump supporter wears a hairpiece similar to Trump's signature style.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

Those in the crowd also heard the new Republican front-runner train his eyes once again on the old one, needling Jeb Bush as having low energy and saying he would do the bidding of special interests.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

Trump, clad in a navy blue jacket and his own cherry-red "Make America Great Again" red baseball cap, won the admiration of hometown hero Sen. Jeff Sessions. The Alabama Republican did not endorse Trump, but came onstage to endorse Trump's immigration positions while wearing his own off-white, Trump-branded hat.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

Trump, whose victory in national and early-state polls is no longer a surprise, has in recent weeks taken steps to quickly professionalize his political operation.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

"Here's a simple question: Who would you rather have negotiating with China, Japan, Mexico, any of them? Trump or Bush?" he asked, as the raucous crowd chanted his name back to him. "Ah, what a group."

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

A pro-Jeb Bush plane flies by the stadium with banner "Trump 4 higher taxes. Jeb 4 Prez." Bush's official campaign said it emailed supporters in Alabama pointing out Trump's previous liberal positions on abortion, gun rights and tax issues.

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

At times appearing more prepared than usual -- referencing what seemed to be notes on his podium and relaying new statistics about illegal immigration to his crowd -- a joyful Trump offered to sign copies of his book, waved his arms to encourage applause at some of his one-liners and made an effort to his Southern crowd by calling the Bible his favorite book and lamenting the decline of the Alabama steel industry. "I'd like to have the election tomorrow," he said at one point. "I don't want to wait."

30,000 rally for Trump in Alabama

Some attendees traveled from as far away as Florida and California to attend. "It was one of the greatest events Mobile ever put on aside from Mardi Gras," said Colby Cooper, Mayor Sandy Stimpson's chief of staff.