One day before critical March 15 primary elections in five states, 2016 presidential candidate Ted Cruz amassed crowds totaling thousands as he made five campaign stops in Rockford, Glen Ellyn, Peoria, Decatur, and Springfield, Illinois.
The closest competitor to GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump drew overflowing crowds in Peoria in the afternoon, packed houses in Glen Ellyn, Decatur, and Springfield, and hundreds gathered for a 9 am rally in Rockford on Monday.
Attendees of the Peoria rally — stop three of the day — posted on the packed theater that filled into the upper deck with people in standing-room only status. But even those with seats stood for the entire rally, according to attendees.
Warner Todd Huston of Breitbart News reported from on location at the Glen Ellyn rally — stop two of the day — where he estimated the packed crowd at around 1,000. One animal rights protester did manage to interrupt that event.
In Decatur — stop four of the day — Cruz greeted crowds en masse. Video posted of the Decatur rally gave an idea of the extensive crowds that came out for Cruz on Monday:
Bruce Redden posted a video of Cruz entering the day’s final rally in Springfield:
As at earlier rallies, Cruz took shots at Donald Trump’s previous donations to Democrats:
In Springfield, Cruz rally-goers cheered and chanted at the evening event that was moved from 10:30 pm to 9:45 pm:
Reporters posted photos commenting on the packed venue:
Host venue iWorshipCenter posted video of the Springfield event that featured the packed the house and cheers from the crowd.
The first stop in Rockford drew crowds estimated anywhere from 500 to 1,000 attendees on a Monday morning. Each subsequent event was remarked as packed or overflowing.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana
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