It鈥檚 9 p.m. on a cold January night in New Jersey, 24 hours before a Donald Trump campaign rally, and the faithful are already lined up.
It鈥檚 like a carnival scene. The streets are lined with vendors hawking Trump 2020 banners, buttons and -- well, you name it. Shirts flapping in the cold wind are emblazoned with everything from a crude 鈥淚mpeach This鈥� (with a hand flipping the bird), to the more church friendly 鈥淭rump: The Chosen One.鈥�
Trump flags 鈥� and fans 鈥� are hanging out of every bar window.
The closer you get to the front of the line, the louder you hear The Voice. The voice of Donald Trump, blaring down from big screens towards his loyal fans.
Thousands of his supporters lined up in hopes of getting through the doors of the rally -- for two days and nights in minus-20 degree weather.
For true Trump believers, it鈥檚 all worth it. And many of those are Americans of strong Christian faith -- for whom President Donald J Trump is 鈥渢he big guy.鈥�
Catholics for Trump rally in New Jersey (W5 / Denise Kimmel)
Among the mob of Trump devotees, W5 found a small, quiet group huddled under blankets, holding signs that read: 鈥淐atholics for Trump.鈥� With cupcakes and coffee as sustenance, the group of about 10 included two priests and their leader, Mary Smail.
Mary is a devout Catholic and school teacher who鈥檚 firmly pro-life. Like many conservative church goers, Mary has always voted Republican, including for Trump in 2016.
Of Donald Trump鈥檚 decidedly un-friendly church tendencies, she told us she forgave him. 鈥淚 love the guy,鈥� she said, 鈥渘o matter what.鈥�
When we returned the next morning to interview Mary, she was a bit more tired, a lot colder 鈥� and ecstatic. This was the day she鈥檇 been waiting for. The day she could get as close to Donald Trump as possible.
As she edged towards the convention centre, jammed between a few thousand other Trump fans, it wasn鈥檛 the warmth she was looking forward to -- it was getting to see Trump, in person right there in front of her on stage.
Finally, it鈥檚 show time. Lights dim, 鈥楪od Bless the USA鈥� blares from the speakers and Donald Trump saunters out, pausing to wave to an ecstatic crowd chanting 鈥淯SA, USA, USA.鈥�
The stage is set to rally the troops. It鈥檚 like being in the centre of a lion鈥檚 den with Trump feeding red meat, hitting all the usual hot buttons:
鈥淚n Virginia, they want to take their guns away,鈥� he proclaims and the crowd loudly boos.
鈥淭his powerful border wall is going up at record speed,鈥� he claims and the crowd cheers.
鈥淚've asked Congress to prohibit extreme late-term abortion,鈥� he promises and the crowd, including Mary, hoots and hollers.
Mary admits that conservative church-goers like her ignore Trump鈥檚 sins and crude language. It鈥檚 erased to forward what they believe Trump is doing -- furthering the Lord鈥檚 work.
His evangelical supporters feel the only way that can continue is to keep 鈥渢he big guy鈥� in the White House.
It also why Mary joins the chants of 鈥渇our more years, four more years鈥� echoing through the convention centre.
Watch 'Unholy Alliance' Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV
