Hundreds of people gathered at a rally in Elma to energize local Republicans as Election Day gets closer.

The event at the Jamison Road Volunteer Fire Company featured controversial strategist and former Trump administration advisor Steve Bannon.

While supporters are inside listening to local Republican leaders, protesters were outside the venue to host their own rally.

Bannon spoke on in support of local Republican candidates. He also provided one-on-one interviews with area news outlets.

This pre-election rally was organized to encourage Republican voters to go to the polls.

Protesters lined up across the street from the venue to rally against Bannon, who they believe promotes white supremacy and hate.

A woman who only identified herself as Jennifer explained  that it was important for her to be there in person.

”We gotta keep the House and the Senate,” she said. “I’m supporting my president.”

A fundraiser after the rally for Assemblyman David DiPietro that would have featured Bannon was supposed to be held at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, but was cancelled because of threats of violence.

Despite a change of venue and threats of violence, Bannon said Wednesday's large turnout shows citizens on the left and the right are fully engaged in politics. 

"There's a lot of devisive language, but we're in a time of where people have two different thoughts of where the country should go," said Bannon. 

Last week, Republican strategist Michael Caputo and DiPietro canceled a fundraiser with Bannon that had been scheduled for immediately after the rally.

"I can tell you right now that the Roycroft Hotel told us that they had a threat to burn the place down. Otherwise why would they require a $5 million property damage policy, a business interruption policy and 30 police officers," Caputo said.

He said they didn't want to risk damage to the historic hotel in East Aurora, however opponents have called him a liar who is conjuring images of violence when in reality the community simply rejected the event.

Democratic congressional candidate Nate McMurray is urging his supporters to knock on doors rather than protest Wednesday; however, Caputo maintained the threats were real.

"I frankly don't blame any of the locals," he said. "I'm quite certain these threats come from somewhere else. Let's just face it, the Roycroft is important to all of us. It's as important to Nate McMurray, who had a fundraiser there, as it is to me or anybody else on the Republican side."

Bannon was on Staten Island Monday night. His group Citizens for the American Republic is paying for the event privately including a security detail.