ASHWAUBENON - President Donald Trump wasn't due at a campaign rally in Brown County for several hours, but you couldn't tell by the level of activity in the neighborhoods around the Resch Center.

A pro-Trump merchandise stand at Lombardi Avenue and Holmgren Way did a brisk business; red "Make America Great Again" hats were the top-selling item. Trump opponents heckled supporters of the president from cars at they drove past.

A line of supporters wound around the Resch Center; some people said they'd waited outside overnight. A video encouraged people to follow Trump’s social media accounts for “real news.”

A number of people said they didn't have tickets to the event, but wanted to be part of the experience — a rare visit to the Green Bay area by a sitting president.

"He's a common-sense guy who talks like I do, and isn't afraid to say some things," said Mark Lewins, a U.S. Navy veteran from Krakow, in Shawano County, who didn't have a ticket to the rally. "He's not just some rich businessman. He thinks the way a lot of us do."

Trump was due at the Resch for a 7 p.m. rally aimed at energizing supporters in a region that typically leans Republican. Wisconsin, traditionally regarded as a "purple" state, supported Trump by a thin 22,700-vote margin in his 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The campaign leading up to the 2020 election seems likely to be heated, as well. Democrats will hold their 2020 nominating convention in Milwaukee; political experts say that's likely to prompt a number of campaign visits by high-profile Republicans as the GOP tries to temper the effect of a major Democratic event.

The president’s job ratings are a bit better in Wisconsin than they are nationally, and they will probably have to be for him to win the state a second time. In a statewide survey released this month by the Marquette Law School, 46% of registered voters approved of his performance and 52% disapproved. Those were among his better numbers in more than two years of polling by Marquette.

In the Marquette poll, 35% of Wisconsin voters said Trump is honest; 45% viewed him favorably; and 42% said they would definitely or probably vote for him if the election were today.

It's also likely to prompted some heated debate between Trump's opponents and supporters. More than four hours before the rally's scheduled start Saturday, a shouting match broke out about a half-block east of the Resch.

"(Expletive) Donald Trump," a teenager carrying a skateboard said to a group looking at Trump T-shirts. A woman in the group accused the teen of being "illegal."

"I got freedom of speech," the teen replied. "Not if you aren't a citizen," the woman replied.

Democrats also rally

Democrats didn't wait for Air Force One to touch down at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport to launch local attacks on Trump.

Bernie Sanders, one of 20 Democratic presidential candidates, targeted Trump in a Green Bay Press-Gazette ad that claims the president "lied to Wisconsin workers." The U.S. senator from Vermont promised to end the "corporate greed" he blames for job losses at Kimberly-Clark and Ashwaubenon-based Shopko. The Sanders campaign also kicked off its field-organizing effort with 52 Wisconsin events, including one at Zozo's Kitchen in Green Bay. It also had a rally scheduled for 5 p.m. near the Resch.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes attended the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's Saturday morning "Rally for the People" at the Green Bay Labor Temple.

“I tend to think that we are going to win Wisconsin in 2020, but it won’t come easy,” Barnes said. “It’s going to take a lot of visits, it’s going to take a lot of conversations with voters, especially those that have been left behind for far too long.”

Barnes said environmental issues, health care and income inequality are among the major issues Democrats should focus on for 2020.

In order to flip Wisconsin blue next year, Barnes said Democrats need to use the same approach they used in 2018 that won Gov. Tony Evers the governorship over two-term Republican Scott Walker. He said they can’t make the same mistakes they made in 2016 in their disconnect with voters.

“We led with a vision in 2018 and if you look back at 2016, most of the campaign was focused on how awful a Donald Trump presidency could be,” Barnes said. “What we’re going to talk about is our positive vision for direction of the United States of America … There was a disconnect in 2016 with the Democratic Party and so many voters that didn’t show up.”

The event was a jointly hosted by Brown County Democrats and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Marisa Jeravek of Kewaunee said she came out to the rally with her mom to make a point they don’t stand by the policies put forth by the Trump administration.

“We’re particularly concerned about the environment, health care coverage for all people especially people with pre-existing conditions, Dreamers and immigrants and how they’ve all been treated, and we just want to stand up and show fellow Democrats that we are against these things and we need to fight for them,” Jeravek said.

Bill Apple of Green Bay said the rally was a chance to unite with those who share the same beliefs against the president.

Republicans optimistic

Back at the Resch, though, Trump supporters remained optimistic that their candidate could win a second term.

Republicans broke a long presidential losing streak in Wisconsin in 2016. The GOP then suffered demoralizing losses for U.S. Senate and governor in 2018, but was buoyed this month by an upset victory for the state’s highest court.

Lorenzo Esquivel got off work at midnight and drove from Chicago to the Resch Center for what he said would be his 12th Trump rally. He arrived at 4:30 a.m. Saturday dressed in a Revolutionary War-era minuteman costume, securing a spot near the front of the line.

“It never gets old,” he said of hearing Trump speak.

Suamico resident Karen Kalas hoped to hear Trump discuss the economy Saturday night. The U.S. gross domestic product grew by 3.2% in the first quarter of the year, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Friday, a development likely to galvanize the president and his supporters.

“My portfolio is very happy,” Kalas said. “I want him to stay in office.”

Marcia Grunwald of Green Bay said she identified as a Democrat before Trump ran for office, but Trump’s honesty and sincerity persuaded her to support him. She believes Saturday’s visit was crucial, saying Wisconsin needs Trump now that “liberal people are running our state.”

“President Trump," she said, "is the best thing that’s happened to our country ever."