Donald Trump's Biggest Fan In Joliet: Meet Bob Tracy, 63
JOLIET — For the past two months, Bob Tracy has become one of Joliet’s most visible daytime figures as tens of thousands of West Jefferson Street motorists see Tracy walking back and forth waiving his Donald Trump flags in front of the Tony’s Fresh Market, the old Kmart property near the busy corner of Larkin Avenue.
“I do very well every day, but weekends are a little bit better,” Tracy, 63, told Joliet Patch’s editor during Wednesday afternoon’s interview in the parking lot near the Circle K gas station.
Here, Tracy sets up a folding table where he sells a large assortment of Donald Trump presidential candidate memorabilia.
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“This is my station, 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., seven days a week, unless it’s raining. If it’s raining, I got the day off,” Tracy said. “This is enterprising, and I get to hail my favorite candidate for the presidency.”
Bumper Stickers, Hats, Flags And Gold Fight Coins
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Tracy sells bumper stickers reading “Trump Save America Again.” He has hats, lots of different hats. His “TRUMP FIGHT” coins show the former president pumping his fist toward the sky moments after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
Tracy even has Donald Trump 2024 currency that reads in small fine print: “This Note Is Not Legal Tender For Any Debts, Public or Private.”
Even though Illinois is regarded as a Democratic stronghold and one of the nation’s most solid blue states, Tracy said he’s seen a lot more enthusiasm around Joliet this summer for Trump, compared to four years ago, when Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden.
“Democrats Are Not Happy With Me Being Out Here”
As for Trump’s 2020 defeat, Tracy is selling another flag proclaiming, “Trump Won Democrats Cheated!”
“People obviously see me out here, and it surprises some people,” Tracy remarked. “The Democrats, or the opposition, are not very happy with me being out here.”
Tracy said he is not aware of anybody else around Joliet who is selling Kamala Harris or Donald Trump memorabilia at a pop-up stand, like he’s done all summer.
Tracy said he was born and raised in Joliet and has set up his Trump memorabilia stand in the front of the former Kmart parking lot, now the Tony’s Fresh Market, since late June.
“The Bigger Sellers Are The Hats”
On most days, about 25 people stop by to purchase Trump memorabilia, Tracy said.
“It’s 20 to 30. I imagine they’re mostly from the Joliet metropolitan area,” he explained. “Of course, the bigger sellers are the hats, the flags and the shirts, which range in size from small to triple extra large.”
He said everything he sells typically ranges from $5 to $20. Flags and hats are around $20 each. Bumper stickers are $5. The Donald Trump 2024 currency is $10. And people who spend more than $30 can get a free spray-water misting fan as a gift.
“Everything goes. When I see myself running low on something selling, I will re-order,” Tracy said.
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One of his flags declares: “I’m Voting For The Convicted Felon.”
“This is a pretty good seller,” Tracy said.
Bob Tracy: “I Believe Trump Is Going To Be On Top”
As Tracy walks along the Jefferson Street holding his Trump flags, he gets plenty of honks from motorists showing their support. But not everyone is happy to see Tracy prominently displaying his Trump memorabilia around Joliet’s busiest intersection.
“I get called a lot of names, but that just rolls right off me. I just wave at them,” he said.
As far as the difference between waves and honks versus people who give him the middle finger and scream profanity about Trump at him, “it’s almost 50-50,” Tracy said. “I have not had one person stop to give me any kind of trouble.”
Tracy said he likes Trump’s chances of winning in 2024 a lot better than he did in 2020.
“This seems to be better,” he said. “People seem to have woken up. A lot of people who stop to chat are just glad I’m here. I think Bidenomics might be a part. I don’t think Kamala Harris is helping him any, and it seems like Kamala is going to take his place.”
Why should people around Joliet vote for Trump, Patch asked.
“He will work for every American,” Tracy said.
At some point in the near future, Tracy said he needs to return to Pulaski, Virginia, where he lives part-time and co-owns the 60-seat Roma Italian & Greek Restaurant – which averages 4.5 stars according to 170 Google Reviews.
“It could be any day or any week,” Tracy said of returning to Virginia.
What’s Tracy prediction on the Nov. 5 election?
“I believe Trump is going to be on top. He will win this,” Tracy said. “I’m trying to push this because Donald Trump, he will be the better president of the two choices. He’s already got the experience in the office already.”
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
IL Celeb Nick Offerman’s New Parody Song: ‘I’m Proud To Be A Kamala Man’
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