BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With the New York state presidential primary Tuesday, a crowd estimated by police as 11,400 strong convened at First Niagara Center for a rally by Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
The turnout may have been a little smaller than organizers projected, but for a rally that sometimes resembled a sporting event, the crowd was loud and enthusiastic.
Trump was introduced by Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who took the stage after conservative stalwart and one-time Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino.
Protesters began disrupting the event almost immediately, and a total of 21 people were ejected. Some were carried off the floor and out of the arena.
Trump was distracted a bit by the protests, but after that, Trump was able to speak more than an hour without interuption. He criticized his GOP opponents.
"Cruz is way, way down in the polls and Kasich is not even sort of showing up. He's one for 32 and he's the governor of that state."
He also talked about some of his platforms.
"We want great trade deals. We want a strong military. We want to take care of our vets. We want to beat ISIS and stop playing games."
Trump called to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, protect the Second Amendment and end Common Core education standards.
"And we will build that wall. We will build that."
A day ahead of the primary, Trump remains a heavy favorite in the polls, but he told the crowd polls won't necessarily matter if there's not good turnout.
"You're going to leave here and you're going to say that was a great evening but more importantly tomorrow you're going to go and vote and you're going to make sure all your friends are going to go and vote."
The businessman said if he's elected, then Western New York and the country will start winning again.