WILKES-BARRE TWP. - Donald Trump took the stage to a cheering, capacity crowd at the Mohegan Sun Arena around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

"We love Wilkes-Barre," Trump said, opening his remarks. "This place is unbelievable."

Trump immediately said his son reminded him to tell the crowd he supports the area natural gas and coal industries.

"This is my last stop. Tomorrow is the election," Trump said.

A win in Pennsylvania will help him get closer to the Republican nomination.

"We're going to make America great again," he said.

Trump was quick to praise local congressmen Lou Barletta and Tom Marino.

"Lou and Tom, Lou and Tom. Get them up here (on stage). If you could get them down here. What great guys, from the beginning," Trump said.

Trump noted there were 6,000 people outside the area who couldn't make it in.

Trump's speech lasted approximately 52 minutes, closing out the rally at approximately 8:20 p.m.

As the raucous crowd cheered him on at the end, Trump reminded them to vote for him and his delegates.

"I had no idea you were going to be so beautiful. In a packed arena with thousands of people trying to get in, we had a great time. You're going to represent the great state of Pennsylvania, which I love. When you look back … you're going to say that was the single greatest vote I ever cast, President Donald Trump,"

Barletta and Marino rallied the crowd prior to Trump's speech.

Trump has funded his own campaign and isn't controlled by lobbyists and the ingrained political establishment, Barletta said.

"They can't buy him. They won't control him. He'll you'll bring your voice to Washington," Barletta said. "This is a movement and you are a part of it. Together, we're going to make America great again"

Barletta said Trump is strong on his signature issue: illegal immigration.

"I believe Donald Trump when he said he's going to secure the border and finally stop illegal immigration," Barletta said. "

Marino, one of the first people in Congress to endorse Trump, said Trump is the only candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton.

"Donald Trump has brought together millions of people because he's not a Washington insider," Marino said.

Before Marino's speech, he told The Citizens' Voice he, Barletta and others helped bring Trump to speak in the area.

"This is a great way to segue into a big victory he' going to have in Pennsylvania. It's a great way to kick it off," Marino said.

The arena is packed with thousands of people, many crowded in front of the standing-room-only area around the stage.

Others like Millie Luba, 69, of Hanover Township, are being seated all around the arena.

Even the upper decks are nearly all full.

"He was smart to come to Wilkes-Barre," Luba said. "I believe he will make America great again, because right now it's not."

Prior to speeches by Barletta and Marino, video clips of Trump played on the jumbotron above the arena floor.

The crowd roared when a clip played of Trump saying, "I am officially running for president the United States

It roared even louder when Trump spoke of building a wall on the Southern border to deter illegal immigration, adding that "I will have Mexico pay for that wall."

People started lining up outside the area as early as 6 a.m.

William Malater claimed his spot at 6:30 a.m.

The Oswego, New York resident came to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Monday morning wearing an American flag draped around his shoulders and a white cowboy hat signed by Republican front runner Donald Trump. He staked out his spot in line to see the presidential candidate at tonight's rally.

"It's like a rock concert," Malater said.

Tonight will be the fifth rally he has attended for the candidate.

Davis of Harveys Lake arrived around 9:30 a.m. with his wife, Jackie Davis. While he supports Trump and plans to vote for him the Pennsylvania primaries, he said he may not have tried to attend a rally if Trump hadn't come to the area.

"Him coming to Wilkes-Barre makes it a lot more convenient," he said.

Davis estimated he was about fourth in line as more and more people pulled up and joined the crowd, setting up chairs or blankets as they settled in for a wait.

"We're meeting people from all over," he said. "It reminds me of tailgating for Penn State."

As people waited in line, a plane carrying a pro-Trump banner circled around the Wilkes-Barre area. The banner read:"Vote Trump: Make America Great Again."

Sarah Scinto, staff writer, contributed to this report

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055

@cvbobkal

@cvbobkal and @cvbillw will be covering the rally tonight. Follow them on Twitter. Check back here, at facebook.com/citizensvoice, and on Twitter with @citizensvoice for updates.