SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. — A campaign MAGA rally for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Spadea featuring retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn drew a sparse crowd Friday on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, with around 50 attendees—mostly senior citizens—gathered for the event.
Flynn was fired by Trump just days into his first term in office.
The main event cost $5,800 per person and it looked like not too many people paid. There was around 40 people at the event, many who were local officials, campaign staff, and Ocean County GOP employees.
The rally, billed as a major endorsement event for Spadea, who is trailing rival Jack Ciattarelli in internal polling, failed to generate the kind of turnout or energy often associated with campaign momentum. Attendees described the atmosphere as low-energy, and the boardwalk appeared largely undisturbed by the gathering.
Flynn, a former national security adviser under President Donald Trump, gave a winding and at times incoherent endorsement of Spadea. “I’ll tell you what, you look at this guy and you go, over his life, over his public life. I mean, very consistent, very matter of fact, very sane,” Flynn said, adding, “I’m not looking for somebody to kiss our mirror in. I’m looking for people who care, who are honest.”
Observers on-site noted the speech drew scattered applause.
Spadea delivered his remarks with longtime GOP operative and top-paid campaign consultant, self-confessed, mentally ill federal tax cheat, George Gilmore positioned behind him throughout.
Gilmore, a once influential but controversial figure in Ocean County politics, watched closely as Spadea attempted to rally support despite recent polling setbacks and tiny crowd.
The Seaside Heights event was intended to signal Spadea’s populist momentum, but the turnout raised questions about the effectiveness of the campaign’s strategy and its outreach beyond a narrow base of zealous fans.
Neither the campaign nor Flynn responded to immediate requests for comment on the crowd size or the candidate’s standing in the race.