Jere Downs

@JereDowns

The "Louisville Trump Headquarters Grand Opening" Saturday launched a local office self-funded by a Fern Creek insurance salesman.

With two phones, a desk and a television inside a former jewelry store, Jeff Klusmeier said he will foot the $1,000 monthly rent until the election in a bid to unite and network among voters drawn to the Republican presidential candidate.

"People want to talk and they want to vent," Klusmeier, 47, said of the space next to T.K.'s Pub at the intersection of Bardstown Road and Hurstbourne Parkway.

"Trump moves from controversy to controversy," Klusmeier said. "There may be an impression of him being an old, grouchy, white guy."

With a new Facebook page "Young Professionals for Trump - Kentucky," Klusmeier said he envisioned the campaign office as a networking spot and campaign hub, like the free Subway sandwiches and beer available until 2 p.m. Saturday at 5436 Del Maria Way.

Cable and phone service are on the way and Klusmeier is seeking volunteers for "phone banking and literature drops."

"We want people to get up and talk about their business or their profession and how Trump's plan can help them or hurt them," he said.

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Polls show Trump's popularity peaking earlier this summer amidst massive leaks of Democratic National Campaign committee emails. Since then, Trump has continued to come under media fire for mouthing off about Latinos, women and Muslims. Klusmeier conceded that Trump's style can work against him.

"The media make a mountain out of a molehill. Sometimes Trump won't talk in complete sentences. He'll blurt out part of a sentence and then he'll come back around to it later," Klusmeier said.

Women and minority are still likely to turn out for the GOP contender, Klusmeier said, if they will take a careful look at his economic proposals and vote in their self-interest.

"It will really come down to economics," he added. "Trump will lower taxes and deregulate businesses, which will free up capital. He will deregulate coal. We've lost 7,000 jobs in Eastern Kentucky in the coal industry. Some of the carbon emissions standards that Obama put in by executive order, Trump has pledged to repeal those. He will look at what effect regulations have on the consumer."

Klusmeier said he has formerly worked for the Kentucky State Senate leadership as well as several Republican campaigns.

Among Trump's economic proposals, Klusmeier said he would like to talk about the proposed corporate tax reduction to 15 percent, renegotiating the NAFTA trade deal, ending estate tax and making America energy independent, to name a few.

"I don't believe the polls one bit," Klusmeier said of Trump's flagging popularity and turbulence among campaign management. "If this man can build skyscrapers in New York, I think he's qualified to be president. In reality, he is very, very successful."

For more information, call Klusmeier can be contacted at Jeff.Klusmeier1968@gmail.com or 502-345-9563.

Jere Downs can be reached at (502) 582-4669, JDowns@Courier-Journal.com and Jere Downs on Facebook.