Elections

Former Indiana University Basketball Coach Bobby Knight To Appear At Trump Rally

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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As the focus of the 2016 race turns to the Hoosier State, former Indiana Basketball coach Bobby Knight will appear with Donald Trump for a campaign rally in Indianapolis this week.

The campaign said Monday that Trump “will be joined by special guest, the legendary coach, Bobby Knight” during a 6 P.M. event at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Wednesday.

There has been speculation that an endorsement from the famous chair-throwing coach would occur. In September, a New York Times Magazine reporter was in Trump’s office and overheard the businessman on the phone with Trump. “No one has accomplished more than Mr. Trump has,” the coach said after Trump told him a reporter was listening.

Over the weekend, Trump teased an endorsement during a rally in Connecticut, saying: “By the way, would I like to get Coach Bobby Knight, who is a great coach, his endorsement. Tough, strong, smart. I would like to get that for Indiana, I’ll tell you what. To me, that would be a great endorsement.”

Indiana, which votes May 3, has 54 delegates up for grab. The delegates will be awarded winner-take all statewide and by congressional district. A Fox News poll released last week shows Trump ahead of Cruz 41 to 33 percent.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the other candidate running in the Republican primary, has formed an alliance with Cruz, declining to compete in Indiana to give Cruz a better shot at taking on Trump there.

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