Donald Trump talks space at Sanford rally

Thousands waited hours to see him, rally moved outdoors

SANFORD, Fla. – Thousands attended a campaign rally Tuesday afternoon for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at Orlando-Sanford International Airport.

Outside the Million Air hangar at Sanford International Airport,Trump told the crowd that an hour before he landed, he got a phone call.

"I said uh-oh," said Trump. "They said 'the people don't fit into the hangar,' I said 'that's a good problem, isn't it?'"

One of Trump's press event organizers at the airport told News 6 he estimated the crowd to be about 10,000 people. Supporters were still in line outside the hangar, waiting to get in, as Trump's plane touched down.

[PHOTOS: Donald Trump rally in Sanford]

"Boy this is a big crowd... a lot of people!" said Trump. "This is a movement folks. In four years it's over. In four years we don't have a chance."

Guy Fitzpatrick was the first in line at 4:15 a.m., Tuesday. Trump didn't start speaking until 3:45 p.m.

"This is my third rally and I've always been first in line," said Fitzpatrick. "I get energized, I'm so frustrated with the system, this is my outlet. I couldn't think of anything better than not sleep, I'm on my 27th hour of being awake, and that's the truth as God is my witness."

Almost all polls show Hillary Clinton ahead of Trump nationally and 3-5 percentage points ahead in Florida, but Trump doesn't agree and neither do his supporters.

"I don't put much weight in the polls, some, but not much," said Fitzpatrick. "You have people who've never voted, an evangelical vote, the Catholic vote, they're gonna come out of the woodwork."

"This is it and we're really close,” Trump said. "We're gonna win Florida."

At the rally, Trump promised to invest in space exploration and Florida’s Space Coast.

"We will substantially expand public-private partnerships to the maximum funding available for space exploration," Trump said. "This means launching and operating major space operations right here that employ thousands and spur economic growth. I will free NASA from the restriction of serving as a logistics agency for low earth orbit activity... Instead we will focus its mission on space exploration."

[RELATED: 2016 election guide | Electoral College | Clinton's most provocative statements | Obama: I laughed at Trump]

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About the Authors:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for News 6 and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting.