The incident
occurred as Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton crisscrossed the United
States a late push to win over undecided voters and make sure supporters turn
out enthusiastically on Election Day.
Two security
agents seized Trump by the shoulders and hustled him backstage as police
officers swarmed over a man in the front of the crowd and held him down and
searched him before escorting him away with his hands behind his back.
Trump,
seemingly unruffled, returned to the stage and continued his speech after a
short time, saying "Nobody said it was going to be easy for us" and
adding "We will never be stopped."
After being
released, the man who was apprehended told CBS News Reno affiliate KTVN-2 that
he was a Republican supporter who attended the rally to express his opposition
to Trump.
"I came
here with this sign expecting boos ... But it was just a sign," Austyn
Crites said.
Crites said
when he took it out, the crowd began to attack him, choking and beating him
before "someone yelled about a gun."
After being
held for a few hours' questioning and security and background checks, Crites
said he was released, and that the police "did their job."
Crites said he
wanted to contrast President Barack Obama’s reaction to a protestor during a
rally a few days ago, in which he urged the crowd to respect the protester,
with Trump's, saying he wanted “people to understand” the difference.
"I have
nothing against Trump supporters," Crites told the station. "We are
all registered Republicans and support many of the same candidates for local
offices. I have serious concern against Trump," he added.
The Secret
Service confirmed that the incident erupted when an unidentified individual in
front of the stage shouted "gun."
"Secret
Service agents and Reno Police Officers immediately apprehended the subject.
Upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was
found," the Secret Service said in a statement.
The incident
began when Trump noticed what he considered a heckler. Seconds later people
near the stage began pointing at someone in the crowd near the front, and
agents took Trump away.
In a
statement, Trump thanked the Secret Service, Reno and Nevada law enforcement
for "their fast and professional response."
Meantime, in
Philadelphia, pop singer Katy Perry performed at a Clinton rally, the latest in
a string of celebrity appearances aimed at getting out the vote among
millennials.
"When
your kids and grandkids ask you what you did in 2016, when it was all on the
line, I want you be able to say you voted for a better, stronger,
America," Clinton said.
Opinion polls
show Clinton still holds advantages in states that could be critical in
deciding the election. But her lead has narrowed after a revelation a week ago
that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into a new trove of emails
as part of its probe into her handling of classified information while she was
secretary of state.
A
McClatchy-Marist opinion poll released on Saturday of voters nationwide showed
Clinton leading by 1 percentage point compared to 6 percentage points in
September.
A
Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll on Saturday showed Clinton ahead by 4 percentage
points nationally compared to 5 points on Friday, while an ABC News-Washington
Post tracking poll had Clinton ahead by 48 to 43 percent.
COMPETING FOR
FLORIDA VOTES
Both
candidates spent time in Florida, considered one of the most hotly contested
states. The 2000 presidential election was decided in Florida after a dispute
over votes and recounting of ballots went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which
ruled in favor of Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.
The Real Clear
Politics average of Florida opinion polls found Clinton with a lead of about 1
percentage point - indicating the race there is a virtual tie.
Trump spoke at
a rally on Saturday morning in Tampa, Florida, where he continued to criticize
Clinton for supporting the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, in the
wake of an announcement that premiums are going to rise next year.
"It's not
going to matter because if we win I'm throwing it out anyway," Trump said.
Shortly before
Clinton took the stage in Pembroke Pines, Florida, rain poured down. People in the
crowd waiting for Clinton at the outdoor rally remained in place, taking out
umbrellas and fashioning garbage bags into head coverings.
"I'm
thrilled to be here and boy is this a hardy group, rain or shine you are
ready," Clinton said, her voice cracking with hoarseness.
She cut her
speech short as she became soaked in rain, saying, "I don't think I need
to tell you all of the wrong things about Donald Trump."
At the JFK
library in Hialeah, Florida, people lined up outside for early voting. Nearby,
supporters of both candidates waved signs and shouted slogans, urging passing
drivers to honk their horns.
"We want
someone to come in and clean house," said Cuban-American Ariel Martinez,
42, a Trump supporter.
Early voting
began in September and the data firm Catalist estimates more than 30 million
ballots have been cast in 38 states. There are an estimated 225.8 million
eligible U.S. voters. Saturday was the final day for early voting in many
Florida counties.
CHANGES IN
PLANS
Trump and
Clinton campaigns adjusted travel schedules for the next two days to states
where they saw opportunity.
Trump told the
crowd in Tampa that there would be a campaign event in Minnesota this weekend,
although one had not previously been scheduled. Minnesota has not voted for a
Republican since 1984. His campaign confirmed a rally scheduled for Wisconsin
on Sunday has been canceled.
Clinton
started the day by stopping by the West Miami Community Center, a Cuban
American neighborhood, with telenovela star Jencarlos Canela, a Miami native of
Cuban descent.
She then
visited her campaign's office in Little Haiti where there is a large concentration
of Haitian-American residents. Clinton was joined by Sybrina Fulton, the mother
of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager who was shot dead in 2012 by a
Sanford, Florida neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman.
While Trump
prefers large-scale rallies, Clinton has filled her campaign schedule with
targeted appearances meant to court voters in specific demographics. Cuban
voters have historically favored Republicans, but younger generations have
shifted toward Democratic Party candidates.
In what was
seen as an effort to defend typically Democratic turf, Clinton on Monday will
campaign in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before returning to Pennsylvania for a
rally in Philadelphia with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle
Obama, and former President Bill Clinton.
Trump is to
make stops on Sunday in Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia to
try to steal away some states that have gone Democratic in recent presidential
elections.
(Story
corrects dateline to remove "N.C.".)
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