COLORADO SPRINGS President Donald Trump and his reelection campaign see Colorado as a top 2020 target, dismissing polls suggesting he has a big hill to climb if he wants to reverse his 2016 fortunes in the state.

Trump lost Colorado to Democrat Hillary Clinton four years ago by 5 percentage points.

We think Colorado will go red, Kayleigh McEnany, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said Thursday as the president held a rally in Colorado Springs. We dont believe the president is under water.

To win in Colorado, however, the Trump campaign will need all the support it can get.

The Colorado Sun spoke with Republican voters at Thursdays rally, which drew thousands to the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, to learn about why they support the president. Heres what they said:

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Morgan didnt support Trump in 2016. He didnt even vote that year.

I didnt know about Trump and how I felt about him then, he said. Hes definitely grown on me.

Among the things he likes about the president? His aggressive stance toward China on trade.

Morgan showed up at the Broadmoor World Arena at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, more than 12 hours ahead of Trumps speech, because he was so eager to see the president. He and his friend Paul Overstreet ran into Brad Parscale, Trumps campaign manager, in the stadium as they were buying some food.

They posed for a photo with Parscale, who paid for their meal.

Lewis, who was at his first Trump rally, said he supported the president when he first ran in 2016. He thinks Trump is doing a fantastic job.

We want to show him good energy, Lewis said.

Whats his favorite thing about Trump? Its hard to say, Lewis said.

Hes done everything he said he was going to do. He takes on the deep state and keeps on fighting. Its very exciting. You can name off about 10 of them. Its not a single issue. How he does everything, he said.

Paulson wasnt going to let a broken foot stop her from attending her first Trump rally. She and her husband rented a wheelchair so that they could see the president on Thursday.

Ive always wanted to go, she said of Trumps rallies.

Paulson supported Trump in 2016 bid and plans to back him this year as well. She said initially liked him because of his business background, but her support has broadened.

I think hes done so much for the country, she said. One of the things Im surprised about is hes done more for Christians than anyone has done in a long, long time. Its really been impressive to me.

The Parks are from California and flew in for the rally. They are independents, or not affiliated with the Democratic or Republican party.

Their daughter, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, serves in the military.

His biggest accomplishment is continuing to produce what a good president does, despite all of the (for the) lack of a better word horse manure thats been shoveled his way, George Park said.

Geralyn Park says she appreciates Trumps commitment to the military.

Nobody wants war. Nobody wants killing, she said. But you have to be strong. And I think he understands that, thats why I like him.

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Cogburn said he likes Trump because the president does what he says hes going to do.

Unlike the last eight years, Cogburn said. Thats what were witnessing right now.

His biggest takeaway from the rally Thursday night was the enthusiasm. Cogburn said he doesnt think the GOP has seen so much excitement in years, if ever.

Cogburn was at the rally with his girlfriend, Darcy Alexander, 48, a schoolteacher and registered Democrat. She said Trump was highly entertaining and keeps your attention.

She also thinks hes been great for the economy.

Isabel Hicks and Sam Seymour are journalism students at Colorado College.

This reporting is made possible by our members. You can directly support independent watchdog journalism in Colorado for as little as $5 a month. Start here: coloradosun.com/join

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A look at the Coloradans supporting Donald Trump and why they adore the president - The Colorado Sun