Anjeanette Damon

adamon@rgj.com

Update 1:52 p.m.: Just hours before Republicans head to caucus sites across Nevada on Tuesday evening, GOP presidential contender Donald Trump drew thousands to a rally in Sparks, urging the crowd to show up at caucus and to keep an eye out for any funny business.

As is his style, Trump threw insults at everyone from opponent Ted Cruz, to the press, to Macy’s department store and Kobe beef during his hour-long speech.

But he assured the crowd he would build a wall on America’s border with Mexico, put Americans back to work, protect the 2nd Amendment, get rid of Common Core standards in education and make the country great again.

“You have to get out,” he said. “You have to go caucus. To put it in our language, you have to go vote. Keep your eyes out for dishonest stuff. Report it to the police. The police are great and the police love Trump.”

Trump zeroed in on Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who’s running in second place, from the start of his speech.

“He’s a little baby, a soft, weak little baby,” Trump said to cheers. “When it comes to lying he’s great.”

“He’s a nasty, nasty guy. He’s a liar and he never employed anybody,” Trump added.

Trump said he will continue to be nice to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio because "he hasn't hit me yet."

"When he does you’ll see what happens," he said.

He then quickly pivoted to Hillary Clinton, who he described as “lacking the strength and stamina to be president.”

Trump saved his love for the thousands cheering him on from a convention room at the Nugget.

“The truth is, you’re really smart people,” he said. “Even the really dishonest press says Trump’s people are the most incredible.”

The rally served as a last minute push to get Trump's supporters out to caucus. Campaign staffers armed with iPad's looked up caucus locations for those in the crowd.

Many in the crowd were resolute for Trump, while some said they are still trying to decide between him and Ben Carson, who also has been campaigning in northern Nevada in the final hours before the caucus.

"I think Trump is pretty cool, but I haven't decided between him and Ben Carson yet," said Sheran Peroni, of Reno. "He reminds me of that president who said walk with a big stick but speak softly."

Phyllis Rose, a former New Yorker who now lives in Reno, said she admired Trump's business acumen.

"I've always wanted to see a good, successful businessman be president," Rose said.

Rita Morningstar, who stopped by the rally on her way to an oncologist appointment, called Trump "amazing."

"People like to say how brash he is, but that's what makes him so honest," Trump said. "He's coming from the heart."

In his speech, Trump touted his plans for a wall along America's border with Mexico, saying it would be "a beautiful wall" and so tall it would take a crane to get anyone off the top of it.

He said his immigration policies make him popular with Hispanics, because he will force immigrants to come in legally.

"I think I’m going to win the Hispanic vote," he said. "In the state of Nevada, I win with Hispanics."

"When we need extra people, we’ll work it out," he said. "They come in, they go back."

Trump championed the 2nd Amendment, saying gun-wielding Americans could fend off terrorists, where Parisians could not in the November attacks.

"If a few of you characters were in that room and you had your gun strapped to your ankle, it would’ve been a whole different story," Trump told the crowd.

Original Post: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at noon Tuesday at the Nugget in Sparks.

The RGJ's Anjeanette Damon covered the event on Twitter. See below.