Kelly, among rally guest speakers, on Trump: 'greatest president that I've ever been alive for'

Five guest speakers warmed up a campaign rally crowd at Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday for former President Donald Trump, unleashing a full-throated defense of the 45th president's record in office while blasting what they claim without evidence was a rigged 2020 election, the news media and the Biden family.

Here are some takeaways.

Sean Parnell, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser slam Biden family, media

U.S. Army combat veteran Sean Parnell led the charge with a litany of attacks against President Joe Biden, Democrats and journalists.

"Make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen, we are a nation that is under attack from within," he said.

Parnell, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2020 for the 17th District seat, said Democrats and the news media will do anything to keep "conservatives who actually fight" like Trump from running, invoking his own experience as a candidate.

"When I ran for Senate, they came after me," he said. "They came after my family. And it wasn't just to stop me. It was to send a message to any other good person out there who's willing to step up."

Parnell suspended his campaign in 2021 after he lost a court battle over custody of his three children in which the judge said he believed allegations of abuse by Parnell’s estranged wife.

More: Trump-backed Pa. Senate candidate Sean Parnell loses custody battle, suspends campaign

Meuser, R-9th Dist., further accused Biden of "corruption, extortion and clandestine payouts." He evoked the "Let's Go, Brandon" mantra to cheers.

Meuser said Democrats were engaging in "frivolous, overreaching indictments" because Trump was running for president.

"The more President Trump goes up in the polls, the more often he gets indicted," he said. "The Biden gang is desperately trying to keep Hunter Biden out of jail and to indict their No. 1 opponent. That's not America. That's a banana republic."

More: Laughlin's suit unearths emails about his view of Kelly; Mastriano, Trump election lies

Carla Sands urges residents to prevent 'cheating' in 2024 election

Carla Sands, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark under Trump, spoke about the Democrats potentially "cheating" in the 2024 election, given what she believes without evidence were unreliable results in 2020.

"Do you honestly believe that Joe Biden got 15 million more votes than Barack Obama?" she asked, evoking boos from the crowd.

"The Democrats have been changing the laws to allow things like mail-in ballots in these drop boxes where thousands of ballots are being stuffed in," Sands said. "You might even say it was rigged. But not this time."

Sands urged residents to sign up to be poll watchers and poll workers to "be in the room this time."

More: Trump-fueled election deniers still 'spread lies,' experts warn. What does that mean for 2024?

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, former U.S. Rep. Fred Keller praise Trump

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, an early supporter of Trump in 2020, touted Trump as the "greatest president that I've ever been alive for."

Kelly asked the crowd why someone as wealthy as Trump who "already had everything" would want to run for president.

"I would suggest to you that the reason he ran was he wasn't looking for anything else in his life other than serving America," Kelly said. "It is love of country. It is love of country that exceeds every other reason to run for president."

More: Laughlin's suit unearths emails about his view of Kelly; Mastriano, Trump election lies

Former U.S. Rep. Fred Keller similarly said he could sum up Trump in two words: "He cares."

"He cares about America. He cares about all of us. None of these politicians on the other side of the aisle think that you can make decisions for yourself," he said. "The Democrats are afraid of President Trump because President Trump believes in all of us."

Kelly, Keller and Meuser were called back up to the stage by Trump during his remarks. All three energized the crowd further by praising Trump and his record.

"This is your moment to save America," Kelly shouted to the cheering crowd.

2022: In combative news conference, Rep. Mike Kelly responds to claims of pardon, fake electors

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Rally guest speakers in Erie PA praise Trump, blast Democrats, others