As Donald Trump was inside the Amway Center announcing his decision to run for re-election, Florida Democrats were holding their own rally outside, dedicating themselves to two-to-six more years of principled “resistance.”
But if Florida Democrats thought they were going to make waves by gathering for a mass demonstration in Orlando Tuesday night, they were sorely mistaken. Although media photos seem to show a relatively robust turnout for the opposition rally, social media snaps showed a pretty anemic response to the president’s 2020 declaration.
In fact, it looks like only a handful of people braved the inclement weather to join the protest.
Keynote speaker, Orange County, Florida’s Democratic party chairman Wes Hodge didn’t exactly deliver his remarks to a sold-out crowd.
Getting #DampForDemocracy at today’s #WinWithLoveRally in #Orlando! @FlaDems are mobilizing like never before to #DumpTrump2020 and #FlipFloridaBlue pic.twitter.com/ixUtbzGf6W
— Wes Hodge (@AgentWes) June 19, 2019
Things didn’t get better for Hodge when the weather cleared up, though.
We are having a great time drying out down here at the #WinWithLoveRally in @citybeautiful! Thank you @OrlandoPolice and @OrangeCoSheriff for doing a phenomenal job keeping everyone safe this afternoon. Come down and join us #DefeatTrumpFL pic.twitter.com/6YXpPsN1up
— Wes Hodge (@AgentWes) June 18, 2019
At full capacity, the crowd did seem to extend almost five people deep from the stage, though the group’s extensive preparations — a massive stage and sound system, designated line areas, and what appear to be first aid and merchandise tents — could probably be considered overkill.
We’re making our voices heard in Orlando at #WinWithLoveRally where unity is strong and the resolve to bring justice and equality back to the Oval Office is clear. pic.twitter.com/nnN30aVwDr
— 1199SEIUFlorida (@1199SEIUFlorida) June 19, 2019
At one point, though, it seems like there were more people on stage than in the audience.
“We know that love wins because love has already won by you being here today” #WinWithLoveRally #DefeatTrumpFL #flapol pic.twitter.com/IuzivDDkeK
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) June 18, 2019
They did, however, have one of those “Baby Trump” balloons.
It was awesome. #WinWithLoveRally. Great energy and positive peeps #Orlandostrong pic.twitter.com/CMvPIwkdLJ
— Jaybird (@Jaybird_79) June 19, 2019
Baby Trump, fun music, and it comes with a gay bar.#DefeatTrumpFL is lit pic.twitter.com/3kEddol7hh
— Alex Morash (@AlexMorash) June 18, 2019
Baby Trump. Drag queens. Mariachi band. OUR community.
Welcome to Orlando, 45. #TrumpRallyOrlando #WinWithLove pic.twitter.com/qHjFwuLyxU
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) June 19, 2019
Somehow, it’s unlikely “45” noticed much. The campaign managed to pack Amway, though there wasn’t the expected sold-out crowd outside watching the monitors, likely because the pouring rain made doing something you could do from home somewhat less fun. That said, more people seemed to gather for the simulcast of the speech inside the arena than gathered for the protest outside.
Ironically, making fun of the turnout for that event was a popular pastime on the “counter rally” hashtag.
Ooooh…such a BIG crowd for 45. Probably the biggest crowd that has ever gather for a rally in Orlando…ever! #winwithlove #winwithloverally pic.twitter.com/2SQXrQvlSq
— happymountain (@happymountain4) June 18, 2019
Trump has little to worry about, it seems, though. The campaign is reporting sunnier polling numbers this week than the ones that leaked from March, and collected a reported $24 million in just over 24 hours — much more than any of Trump’s prospective competitors did in the entire first quarter of 2019.