They wrapped themselves in American and Trump flags, wore T-shirts blasting socialism and bought $20 T-shirts that showed the president wearing a construction hard hat and overalls while building a wall.

Trump supporters Tuesday streamed steadily into downtown Orlando ahead of President Trump's 8 p.m rally, where he is scheduled to formally announce his 2020 re-election bid.

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A storm rolled through the city beginning at 1:30 p.m., bringing rain and a few thunderclaps that cooled the thousands gathered. Before that, the temperature was 88 degrees but, when accounting for the humidity, it felt like 96, weather apps stated.

Shelby Edwardson, 49, and her daughter Nicole, 16, both from Longwood, arrived just after noon. They said they have tickets and are excited to attend their first Trump rally.

“He does what he says he’s gonna do,” Shelby said. Then her daughter added: “He tells it like it is, he doesn’t sugarcoat anything.”

The first people in line arrived early Monday morning, but the majority of the crowd did not start rolling in until Tuesday.

Many around 7:30 a.m. walked past the Orlando Union Rescue Mission on Central Boulevard to stand in line a block north of the Amway Center, where at least 20,000 inside are expected to watch Trump speak. Thousands more were expected to be outside, viewing the 45th president on giant TV screens.

The line snaked along Central to Division, where it moved south and into a staging area for supporters to wait until their chance to enter the arena later.

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Ann and Bill Cwynar said they left their Boynton Beach home at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday for a chance at a good spot for the speech.

“He’s actually doing stuff for the people,” Ann Cwynar said of why she she supports Trump. “And he’s doing what he said he would do.”

Vendors selling Trump merchandise took advantage of the crowd, with dozens hawking T-shirts stating “Make liberals cry again” and buttons proclaiming “Build The Wall.”

“It’s been going pretty good,” vendor Steve Smeif said of sales as he pulled a cart carrying pro-Trump merchandise along Central in Orlando. “People are nice, so far.”

Smeif said he flew from New York City for the rally.

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Just a half block from the arena along Interstate 4, Michelle Brown of Washington, D.C., said she drove 13 hours to sell 12 dozen Trump hats. She arrived by 8:30 a.m.

“The sad thing is, we can’t even sell them up there,” she said, “because people don’t buy them.”

Up the street, Robin Marks said he drove 13 hours from his home in Jackson, Tennessee, pulling a trailer with Trump items. Noting this is his full-time job, selling goods at Trump rallies, he added sales were slow Tuesday morning “but it’s early.”

Stephen LaRosa of Fort Myers was having better luck along South Division Avenue, on the corner where everyone flowing toward the staging area had to pass.

LaRosa said he made the nearly three-hour drive to Orlando early Tuesday, arriving at 2 a.m.

“Sales are good. They always are at Trump rallies,” said LaRosa, who owns the Halloween Megastore in Fort Myers.

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He was selling Trump buttons for $5 apiece or 3 for $10. T-shirts and hats went for $20 each.

Orlando police and other law enforcement provided a strong presence around the arena and nearby blocks: officers drove patrol cruisers, motorcycles, bikes and patrolled on foot.

The staging area was a large vacant city block next to the Amway Center, where a live band performed John Mellencamp’s “Hurt So Good” and George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone.” And when the band was not playing, recorded music blared from large speakers, everything from the Village People’s “Macho Man” to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Between songs, a recorded message of Trump would address supporters, as did Lara Trump, a presidential adviser who’s married to Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons.

Her message thanked supporters and reminded them how much she said her father-in-law has improved the economy and supports the First Amendment right to free speech.

Mary Gerace of Tampa set up signs and a chair across from the large field of Trump supporters just before the storm. The signs included wording such as “March For Immigrant Families” and “Black Lives Matter.”

“I have a voice and I have the acumen and I came here to support marginalized communities,” she said.

Gerace said she stands for groups such as minorities but also poor whites and others who struggle daily to make ends meet.

“I have a good heart and I don’t want to see people suffering in America. I’m a humanist,” she said, noting she’s not a Democrat or Republican.

“We have the money, the technology and the intelligence so there’s no way that should be happening. It’s ridiculous.”

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor for the Naples Daily News and News-Press in Fort Myers, both of which are part of the USA Today Network. You can reach him Dave.osborn@naplesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @NDN_Dosborn.