Donald Trump addresses his biggest crowd yet at 40,000-seat Alabama stadium

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Republican front-runner addressed massive crowd in Mobile
Started his speech by saying: 'I know how Billy Graham felt'
The 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium was about half-full during speech
Reiterated intention to end 'birthright citizenship' for immigrants' children
Attacked Obama, saying Obamacare was his only domestic success

Published: 21:18 EST, 21 August 2015 | Updated: 15:46 EST, 22 August 2015

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Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Friday joked, 'I know how Billy Graham felt' as he addressed the largest crowd yet of his thriving presidential campaign.

'I would like to have the election tomorrow,' Trump crowed. 'I don't want to wait.'

Thousands of Alabama voters came out to hear the New Yorker bring his message to the Deep South. The 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium was about half-full when Trump began his speech.

Trump was welcomed by an array of Alabama politicians, including Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, who praised him for the attention he's drawn to immigration issues. And Trump led off his speech with more criticism of immigrants living in the country illegally, drawing loud cheers when he repeated his promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

He reiterated his intention to end 'birthright citizenship' for children of immigrants here illegally.

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters after his rally at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama

Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Friday joked, 'I know how Billy Graham felt' as he addressed the largest crowd yet of his thriving presidential campaign

Support: People in the crowd hold supportive signs as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the rally

The 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium was about half-full when Trump began his speech

Trump also attacked the Obama administration's deal with Iran to restrict that country's nuclear program, calling it 'so sad.'

And he promised to 'repeal and replace Obamacare' — the health care law that's President Barack Obama's singular domestic achievement.

Before Trump arrived, his fans — some carrying signs, others wearing T-shirts supporting the billionaire businessman — spoke of his outsider status in a crowded field dominated by former and current elected officials as the song 'Sweet Home Alabama' blared from loudspeakers.

Valerie Crosby, Whitney Crosby, Kimber Sparks and Susan Wragg (pictured from left to right), supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, arrive to hear him speak at a rally held in Ladd-Peebles stadium in Mobile, Alabama

Trump speaks with an excited supporter as otherse standing around take pictures following his rally on Friday in Alabama

Crowds of supporters are greeted by the Republican presidential candidate after his rally

Trump waves to supporters following his rally on Friday. The Trump campaign moved tonight's rally to a larger stadium to accommodate demand

'Donald Trump is telling the truth and people don't always like that,' said Donald Kidd, a 73-year-old retired pipe welder from Mobile. 'He is like George Wallace, he told the truth. It is the same thing.'

Wallace, a fierce opponent of civil rights, served as governor of Alabama and sought the presidency multiple times.

Kidd said Trump is a 'breath of fresh air,' and praised him as a businessman with common sense.

Savannah Zimmerman, a 27-year-old registered nurse from Mobile, agreed. 'I think he appeals to us Southerners because he tells it like it is and he has strong opinions. That is the way we are here in the South,' she said.

Mary Anne Bousenitz, 59, a retired psychiatrist from Tuscaloosa, said she isn't offended by the insults Trump has directed at women, like 'dog' and 'bimbo.'

Evangelist Billy Graham waving handkerchief while standing at podium during service in front of large Wembley stadium crowd in London in 1954

Thousands of Alabama voters came out to hear the New Yorker bring his message to the Deep South

Trump led off his speech with more criticism of immigrants living in the country illegally, drawing loud cheers when he repeated his promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border

He left the stage to Twisted Sister's song 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. Empty seats are seen in the background

Meet and greet: Trump mingles with the crowd at the stadium during the rally

'I'm not married to the man and it's not like I'm going to have to sit across a turkey at the table with him,' she said.

Interest in the candidate forced organizers to move a planned rally from the Mobile Civic Center, which holds about 2,000 people, to Ladd-Peebles Stadium, a 40,000-seat football stadium.

Before the rally, Trump tweeted: 'We are going to have a wild time in Alabama tonight! Finally, the silent majority is back!'

During the height of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon sought the backing of the 'silent majority,' widely considered to be Americans who stood behind the Republican president and weren't getting the attention that protesters attracted. Trump has derided elected officials and cast his candidacy as an outsider's bid.

The Bush campaign on Friday night e-mailed thousands of supporters in Alabama, denouncing Trump as a Republican presidential candidate. The campaign statement said that Trump favors partial-birth abortions, supports restrictions on gun rights and backs laws that infringe on states' land rights.

'Trump's positions are deeply out of step with the Alabama way of life,' the campaign said in the email. 'We know Alabama cherishes life, especially the life of the unborn.'

Right to Rise USA, the super PAC supporting Bush, tweeted photos of a plane, with a banner ad bashing Trump and promoting Bush, flying over the stadium, before Trump's rally.