Trump rallies in NM

RIO RANCHO - She saw diversity. She saw young people. Roosevelt County Republican Chairwoman Tina Dziuk saw hope for New Mexico.

"Given the overreach by our current (governor's) administration, I think New Mexico might be right to go red," she said.

Dziuk, president of White Rock Crushing road materials in Portales, was among an estimated 9,000 people crowded into the Santa Ana Star Center on Monday night for President Donald Trump's campaign rally.

And she saw it up close and personal.

"I had a VIP ticket," she said. "And while we were standing in the VIP line, one of the Trump people came and sorted us and put us in the front row behind the president."

Dziuk said she was sitting with national committee Chairwoman Rosie Tripp. It was Dziuk's first time to see Trump in person.

"I was impressed," she said. "Sitting behind me were the Latinos for Trump group. I was really surprised by the number of Hispanics at the rally."

And one more positive she took from the gathering:

"I was surprised, yes and no, by the diverse group of people ... A lot of young people. Just because you don't usually see a lot of young people getting involved."

Trump vowed to win New Mexico in next year's election, wooing Hispanic voters and promising to protect the state's energy industry.

"We will campaign for every vote and we will win the great state of New Mexico," he said.

"The Democrats want to completely annihilate New Mexico's economy. ... New Mexico will never give them the chance."

A Republican presidential candidate hasn't won the state since 2004, and the GOP suffered losses across the board here in last year's midterms, including all statewide races.

Yet the president appeared undeterred in assuring the lively crowd he can prevail, devoting a significant portion of his more than 90-minute speech to trying to win over the Latino vote in a state with the largest percentage of Hispanic residents in the nation.

Trump said Hispanics have made economic gains during his administration. He also called out the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and claimed Latinos want him to continue building the border wall. Some supporters held signs that read "Latinos for Trump" and encouraged people to text the word "VAMOS" to a specific number.

"The Hispanic Americans, they understand they don't want criminals coming across the border, they don't want people taking their jobs, they want that security and they want the wall," Trump said. "Among those hardest hit by illegal immigration are Hispanic Americans who obey the laws, pay their taxes, contribute to our communities and play by the rules."

Trump promised to build 500 miles of border wall by the end of next year.

At least two protesters were escorted from the arena to a chorus of boos.

"Good night," Trump said, waving as one protester was escorted away. "The media will say mass protests."

While Trump's visit prompted protests and a Democratic rally in Albuquerque, there did not appear to be major disturbances or rioting.

In May 2016, a calm protest outside Trump's rally in Downtown Albuquerque erupted into fiery violence as protesters jumped on police cars, smashed windows, and fought with Trump supporters and police.

The Santa Fe New Mexican and Albuquerque Journal contributed to this report.