Trump Hits Atlanta ... And the Lights Go Out

ATLANTA, GA -- One day after a major victory in the all-important -- and always interesting -- South Carolina GOP primary, Donald Trump held an invitation-only rally in Atlanta.

And then the lights went out.

The Republican frontrunner was in full campaign speech mode when the lights in the Georgia World Congress Center went out, leaving Trump to immediately quip, “They didn’t pay the electric bill,” reports CNN.

The bright lights were for the benefit of TV cameras.

“Those lights were brutal,” Trump said. “They come from the dishonest press. Don’t turn the lights on. Plus, we save on electricity, right? And because the lights didn’t work, I won’t pay the rent. So we get better lighting, and we don’t pay the rent, right?”

When the lights came back on, Trump enjoined the crowd to chant, “Turn off the lights! Turn off the lights!”

Trump’s appearance came less than a week after Democrat U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ rally at Morehouse College. Earlier this month, former President Bill Clinton was in Atlanta on behalf of the party’s other presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton.

After the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, all of the major presidential candidates are focusing their attention on the South, and Georgia in particular. The SEC Primary will be held March 1, when seven states -- including Georgia -- hold their presidential primaries.

Trump continues to invest heavily in Georgia, with new campaign offices in Brunswick, Evans (in middle Georgia) and Valdosta. His Atlanta office opened a few weeks ago. Trump is also scheduled to be in Valdosta on Feb. 29.

Another GOP hopeful, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, opened his first campaign office in Atlanta last week. And Ohio Gov. John Kasich will hold a town hall meeting in Sandy Springs at 5 pm on Tuesday.

Patch is your leading source for local news and information regarding this year’s historic presidential election. Check out some of our previous coverage, and stay with your local Patch for the latest in political news throughout our communities.

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