Donald Trump may have generated controversies right through his campaign trail but his supporters feel the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is "charismatic" and would change the philosophy of governance in the world's largest economy.
Pennsylvania, a 'coal country' which once was the economic hub of America but is now badly hit by recession and new economy of climate change and green energy, could prove to be critical to Trump's path to the White House.
The 69-year-old real estate tycoon is planning to spend quite a substantial amount in this key swing state and try to exploit the general economic disenchantment of small businesses and people with his slogan of 'Make America Great Again'.
"He (Trump) is a dynamic guy. He is refreshing. He is not any other politician. It's now or never for America," Ralph J Dadowski, who along with several hundred other supporters waited inside a hanger for hours to listen to Trump's speech in this steel city, told PTI.
A local businessman in pharmaceutical sector, Dadowski strongly believes that Trump is the best person to lead the country.
"We need to change the philosophy of governance and how we do things. And Trump represents that," Dadowski said, adding that he would vote for Trump in the November general elections.
As he kicked off his presidential campaign in full swing, Trump selected Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania as one of his key stopover this weekend.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, several thousand people waited for him inside a hanger for hours.
Trump also campaigned in Richmond in Virginia and Tampa in Florida -- the other two swing states.
In all his speeches, he dwelt on similar themes -- bringing jobs back to the country, reviving the economy, stopping illegal immigration, radical Islamic terrorism, making military strong and his personal attack on Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Political pundits, however, say it is a tough road for Trump in Pennsylvania as it was way back in 1989 that Pennsylvania was carried by a Republican candidate.
Since then no Republican presidential candidate has won this state.
Trump himself acknowledged the tough task ahead but exuded confidence that "his movement" would see him through this time. His die hard supporters also believe so.
"Of course he is going to win Pennsylvania this time. No doubt about it," asserted Traci Gerrard and her husband Alan Gerrard -- who run a small business in Pennsylvania.
They said they want less restrictions in business and smaller government.
"Trump is charismatic. He says what other people are afraid to say," Traci said at a Pittsburg rally of the Republican presidential candidate. The Gerrard couple voted for Trump during the primaries.
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"Of course, yes," Traci said when asked if she would vote for the real estate tycoon again in the November polls
"I am all for a woman president. We want to have a woman president. But not Hillary Clinton. She is not reliable," she said.
Alan Gerrard said he favours a strong immigration system wherein people do not come inside the country illegally.
Caroline Eidbergur, who works for an accounting firm, feels that Trump as a president would turn around the country.
"My husband is in the construction industry and it is a bad situation for the last eight years," Eidbergur said.
She and her husband have already made up their mind to vote for Trump in the November presidential elections.
"Trump would run the country like a business. He would be the CEO of the country. We need someone like him now," her husband said.
"We do not want another eight years of more regulations in steel and coal industry," Eidbergur said when asked about Clinton.
The foremer secretary od state is scheduled to campaign in the state on Tuesday.
The Democratic party's convention would be held in Philadelphia in July wherein she would be formally anointed as party's presidential candidate.
Clinton is the first woman in American history to reach this position.
John Zilicah, who works for the Pennsylvania state, said he is supporting Trump because he wants change.
This is the same slogan that voted Barack Obama to power eight years ago.
Attending the rally with his friends, Zilicah said he is supporting Trump because of his stand on the right to carry fire arms and a strong military.
"Our military should be strong," he said, adding that he would not vote for Clinton.
"She should be in jail because of the email and Benghazi scandal," he alleged, echoing the points being made by Trump in his public addresses for the last several weeks.
Trump in his speech touched on the right nerves.
"I love steel. I love the miners. I will put them back to work," he said.
Referring to a recent speech of Clinton, he said she is not going to win Pennsylvania.
"She is not winning Pennsylvania. She wants to put coal miners out of work," he said.
The New York-based real estate tycoon also talked about his roots in this state by saying that he spent several years here. He studied at the prestigious Wharton Business School.
Trump promised to lower the taxes and alleged that Clinton would raise the taxes to at least 55 per cent.
"I am lowering taxes for middle class and businesses," he said.
Trump's campaign has been marked by many controversies -- from commitment to build a wall along the Mexico border to his call for banning Muslims from entering the country.
