Donald Trump rallies large crowd in Alabama

Trump draws enthusiastic crowd at Alabama rally

Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Friday joked, "I know how Billy Graham felt" as he addressed the largest crowd yet of his thriving presidential campaign.

"I would like to have the election tomorrow," Trump crowed. "I don't want to wait."

Thousands of Alabama voters came out to hear the New Yorker bring his message to the Deep South. The 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium was about half-full when Trump began his speech.

Trump was welcomed by an array of Alabama politicians, including Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, who praised him for the attention he's drawn to immigration issues. And Trump led off his speech with more criticism of immigrants living in the country illegally, drawing loud cheers when he repeated his promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

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He reiterated his intention to end "birthright citizenship" for children of immigrants here illegally.

Trump also attacked the Obama administration's deal with Iran to restrict that country's nuclear program, calling it "so sad."

And he promised to "repeal and replace Obamacare" - the health care law that's President Barack Obama's singular domestic achievement.

He also took a stab at fellow GOP hopefuls former Florida Gov. Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

"We're leading in Florida, can you believe it?" Trump said to the crowd, referencing a Quinnipiac University pollof the battleground state which showed the billionaire at the front of the GOP pack. "I love Florida. It's a great place. Great. But [in] Florida we have a governor, and we have a sitting senator, and I'm killing them. Explain that. Obviously they're not doing a very good job."

He added that Bush was "very weak on immigration" and resurrected the feud between the two candidates over the phrase "anchor baby" when referring to children born to undocumented immigrants on U.S. soil.

Donald Trump’s biggest campaign rally yet

"You know he put out a memo you cannot use anchor baby," Trump said. "Now because I used it, he's using it! Politicians!"

Before Trump arrived, his fans - some carrying signs, others wearing T-shirts supporting the businessman - spoke of his outsider status in a crowded field dominated by former and current elected officials as the song "Sweet Home Alabama" blared from loudspeakers.

"Donald Trump is telling the truth and people don't always like that," said Donald Kidd, a 73-year-old retired pipe welder from Mobile. "He is like George Wallace, he told the truth. It is the same thing."

Wallace, a fierce opponent of civil rights, served as governor of Alabama and sought the presidency multiple times.

Kidd said Trump is a "breath of fresh air," and praised him as a businessman with common sense.

Others were also tired of political dynasties, expressing their disdain for people like Jeb Bush.

"He needs to go home," Annette Greer, of Mobile, said. "I mean there ain't another way to say it. No more Bushs, no more Clintons. It's time for new blood."

CBS News Digital Journalist Alan He contributed to this report.

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