UTICA, N.Y. -- Not far from the excitement of President Trump's visit was an energy of its own. More than a thousand people came out to protest.

"We really would like to have been here because it's an honor to have the president of the United States visit our region, but this is somebody who has done nothing for this region, nothing for this country. We've actually stepped backwards because of him," said protester Stephen Hampe.

The protesters wanted people to hear their message.

"The point of being out here right now is to let them know, to let Trump know and Tenney know, that we oppose their policies on taxes, on health care, on the environment," said protester Joelle Taylor.

"The current political environment has made many of us activists who probably weren't before," Bruce Bonney, a protester said. "I'm from a Vietnam-era generation so I sat that one out. Not going to sit this out."

Many encouraged others to vote for Anthony Brindisi in this fall's congressional race — and not far from Claudia Tenney's big fundraising event was her opponent Anthony Brindisi, having a fundraiser of his own.

"We didn't see the protesters. I saw some of the news about it," said Congressional candidate Anthony Brindisi. "We're very excited though that we got about 500 people here tonight strong. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, all supporting this campaign."

People could attend the fundraiser for $10.

"We're here supporting small dollar donations and that's what's going to get us through the finish line at the end of the day," said Brindisi.

"I think Anthony Brindisi is on the right track with health care, with taxes, and with the things this particular geographic area cares about," said Leslie North, a Brindisi supporter.

More than 700 people attended Brindisi's event.