ATLANTA -- Bruce Levell has a rare distinction. He's a Republican activist who also happens to be African-American. He is further distinguished now by his active support for Donald Trump.
"Breath of fresh air," Levell said Tuesday.
In 2012, Levell publicly lamented an absence of ethnic diversity in Georgia's Republican party.
But when Levell looks at Trump, he says he man who is misunderstood on issues of ethnicity. He says nothing about Trump makes him nervous nor makes him cringe. Asked about Trump's rhetoric, Levell says evenly: "I don't see it as incendiary."
Levell is unfazed by Trump's description of Mexican immigrants as dangerous criminals. He says Trump's pitch to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US is defensible.
"I think what happened was, it was a conversation where it was brought up to say, hey…there's a lot of uncertainties with protecting the homeland," Levell said.
Asked if Trump steps close to bigotry in his rhetoric, Levell says "absolutely not."
"Has it been turned around, twisted around? Absolutely." Levell says. He says he has personally taken Trump's measure in a meeting at his business office in New York.
Levell plans to campaign for Trump in Iowa.
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