With the TRUMP-emblazoned, silver-and-black jet parked on the tarmac just outside the open hangar doors as a backdrop, Donald Trump said he visited Columbus on Super Tuesday today because "Ohio's vote in two weeks is crucial." "Winning Ohio is so important, it's going to send a signal like nothing else," he told an enthusiastic crowd of about 5,000 at the Port Columbus facility.

With his TRUMP-emblazoned, silver-and-black jet parked on the tarmac just outside the open hangar doors as a backdrop today, Donald Trump said he was visiting Columbus on Super Tuesday because Ohio's vote in two weeks is crucial.



"Winning Ohio is so important, it's going to send a signal like nothing else," he told an enthusiastic crowd of about 5,000 at Signature Flight Support next to Port Columbus.



But the visit came as more Ohio GOP leaders – including the Ohio Black Republicans Association – moved to distance themselves from the candidate favored to virtually sweep the 11 states awarding GOP delegates today.

>>Video: Trump praises Meyer, attacks Kasich

"We are appalled and revolted by Donald Trump's failure and unwillingness to disavow David Duke and the KKK," said James Ervin Jr., president of the group, in a statement.



"Mr. Trump's failure to disavow such an abhorrent organization and the antithesis of America evidences his inability to lead and unfit character to be our party's nominee for president of the United States."



Trump did initially disavow the support from Duke, a former leader of the white supremacist group, but later said he wasn't familiar with him despite earlier statements about him, and still later blamed the confusion on a faulty TV earpiece. The KKK controversy came as Trump re-posted a tweet quoting Benito Mussolini, generally credited with founding Facism, and called for changes in U.S. libel laws so he could more easily go after the news media when it criticizes him.



During a press call set up by the Ohio Republican Party – which has endorsed Gov. John Kasich – about 90 minutes before Trump's speech, Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo said Trump's reluctance to quickly condemn his white supremacist backing "offends me as an African American." In addition, Mingo said Trump's criticism of Vietnam War captive Sen. John McCain last summer and his ridicule of people with disabilities offends him as a veteran and as someone dealing with Parkinson's disease.



"I will absolutely abstain from supporting Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee for president of the United States," he said.



Tracy Winbush, a member of the Ohio GOP's state central committee, said, "I have a problem as an African American to have someone at the top of the ticket who doesn't stand for the values of the Republican Party."



Matt Borges, Ohio Republican chairman who arranged the call, said growing opposition within the GOP "makes it very, very difficult to prosecute an effective campaign in this state."



Trump did not address the issue during his speech.

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But Mark Burns, a black preacher from South Carolina who gave a short talk along with an opening prayer (before Trump arrived) did. He blamed the media for doing "a horrible job" in trying to paint Trump as a racist, and expressed hope there are "enough real Americans in Ohio" who believe otherwise.



Burns – who thanked God for Trump's life and asked for "a wonderful Super Tuesday in Jesus name" – told the audience, "On March 15 you're going to embarrass Kasich and you're going to put him out of the race for good."



In a speech interrupted by groups of protesters three times, Trump slammed his two major opponents.



Of "Little Marco" Rubio, the senator from Florida, Trump said, "He wanted to be Don Rickles and it hasn't worked because he's going down."



He also rejected Rubio's assertion that Trump's hands are too small, although he did not mention Rubio's companion claim that he uses spray-on tan.



Then he moved on to "Lyin' Ted" Cruz, the senator from Texas. "These politicians, all they do is lie. We don't have to lie," Trump said.



He was less caustic on the hometown governor.



"You ever hear of a guy named Kasich?" he asked the crowd, many of whom erupted in boos.



"I like him. But it helps when your state happens to hit oil," Trump said, referring to his oft-debunked claim that Ohio's economic recovery depended on fracking.



"We really want to win Ohio. We're going to win Ohio," Trump proclaimed.



Trump was introduced by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who endorsed the reality TV star last week. Christie warned Ohio voters that in the next weeks "his desperate opponents will say and do anything to tear him down, but you know the truth. The true leader in this race is Donald J. Trump."



After today's Columbus visit, Trump has stops scheduled for Louisville and Palm Beach, Fla., where he will watch today's results and likely give a victory speech.

drowland@dispatch.com



@darreldrowland