PENN TWP — Ball caps, T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing President Donald Trump reelection campaign slogans and patriotic messages were the hot items people bought from vendors Saturday before Trump's rally Saturday at the Pittsburgh-Butler Airport.

Bob and Mallory Bateman of Penn Township bought a few T-shirts from a vendor selling Trump memorabilia outside of the Country Kitchen restaurant on Saturday, but they weren't going to the rally.

“We're going trick or treating. The grandkids are in town,” Bob said. “If it wasn't Halloween, we'd be there.”

They were looking for a large, sturdy Trump flag to fly on the flagpole outside of their house. He said they had two flag at their house, but took them down to avoid wind damage.

He said he expected Trump to draw a huge audience at the airport.

“He can fill a stadium. I'm a Trump guy. I've always been a Trump guy,” he said.

The vendor Avery Hunt of Prospect said sales were moderate, but sweatshirts were the most popular item.

“Selling a lot of sweatshirts today because it's so cold,” Avery said.

Tom Metighe of Gibsonia stopped at Avery's truck in his pickup truck that was decorated with Trump and American Flags,

He said he thought about going to the rally, but didn't want to get stuck in traffic, so he decided to drive around and let the flags flutter in the wind.

A truck mechanic, Metighe said he is voting for Trump because his friends drive trucks carrying loads of steel and pipe, and the president has supported the steel industry.

“To be free,” he said is another reason. “I don't want somebody telling me what to do.”

He said Democratic candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden would raise taxes if elected.

Outside of the Planet Mart gas station and convenience store, vendor Steve Dunning of South Carolina was selling Trump and patriotic memorabilia for CN Sales of Ohio. He said he travels from Florida to New York selling merchandise.

He said some customers were going to the rally and some were not, but T-shirts, hats and flags were the most popular items.

“Mr. Trump has a lot of fans,” Dunning said.

Among them are Jason and Kara Kelly and their friend, Jason Echas.

Kara Kelly said she was buying hats for her dad and son.

Echas said they were at the home of another friend who lives near the airport and they could overhear some of the speeches.

The Kellys said they are looking forward to voting in person on election day.

Justin Trainor, owner of the Hardwood Cafe, noticed an unusually heavy volume of traffic on Route 8 heading toward the airport and a few more customers than usual early in the day.

“This morning, there was much more traffic that usual for a Saturday,” Trainor said.

A handful of Trump supporters stopped in the restaurant during the afternoon, but, he said, he expected a large crowd to come after the rally in the evening.

Many Trump supporters were among the many regular breakfast crowd at Country Kitchen, said owner Patty Haley.

“A lot of Trump supporters. We had quite a few in for the rally,” she said.