Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, three days before Massachusetts voters head to the polls in the Democratic Primary. Watch video

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, three days before Massachusetts voters head to the polls in the Democratic primary.

Sarno, in a press release Saturday night, praised Clinton as a realistic and tough advocate for everyday Americans.

"Secretary Hillary Clinton understands the important role that federal government needs to play in investing to make for stronger families, a stronger middle class, and a stronger 'Main Street,' " Sarno said in a statement. "She's a fighter, steadfast, who has stood tall under constant withering personal attacks and criticisms. She knows how to deal with the pressurized situations of being on the difficult front lines of foreign policy and diplomacy."

"She's a reformer and she's a gradualist who understands that a sensible and affordable approach has to be taken to cut college costs and student debt," Sarno continued. "More importantly, in this unfortunate age of the insults of 'reality television', Secretary Clinton brings to the table not only a firm and experienced demeanor, but also a respectful and compassionate presence. I look forward to welcoming our next President of the United States to Springfield on Monday."

The endorsement comes shortly before Clinton is scheduled to appear at a rally Monday at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's chief opponent in the primary race, appeared at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for a rally last Monday.

The most recent polling in the race, by WBUR/MassINC, shows a tight contest with Clinton beating out Sanders by a 49 percent to 44 percent margin.

Officials report the UPS driver and two occupants in the Nissan were killed.

COMMERCE, Calif. -- Three people were killed and at least four others injured around midnight Friday after authorities say a street race on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County led to a fiery crash involving up to eight vehicles.

The California Highway Patrol reports the crash happened in Commerce, about 8 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

According to authorities, the drivers of two Dodge vehicles were racing when one of the cars tried to get around a slower vehicle on the highway. The driver slammed on the brakes and hit a UPS truck.

The UPS big rig crashed through the center divider, hitting a Nissan Sentra.

Officials report the UPS driver and two occupants in the Nissan were killed. The driver of the UPS truck was based out of the company's Cerritos office and had been with UPS for about 30 years, KCAL reported.

CHP authorities said one the street racers, Dealio Lockhart, 35, of Whittier, was taken into custody and could face vehicular manslaughter charges. Police were still searching for a second motorist Saturday.

There was no phone listing for Lockhart in Whittier and it was not immediately clear if he had obtained an attorney.

"The person we have in custody did admit to street racing," CHP officer Doris Peniche told KCAL. "He observed a similar looking vehicle, it caught his attention and they began to race."

The collision flew debris into both lanes of traffic on Interstate 5, shutting the freeway down in each direction. Witnesses also saw giant flames and could hear explosions coming from the crash site.

Early Saturday morning investigators continued to comb through the tangled mess of rubber and metal, the vehicles barely identifiable

Here's are winning numbers for Saturday's Powerball jackpot.

Feeling really lucky? Then let's hope you plunked down $2 for a ticket to the latest Powerball drawing.

Here are Saturday's winning numbers:

10-11-21-22-53, Powerball: 18, PowerPlay: 3X

The estimated jackpot is $265.3 million. The lump sum payment before taxes will be more than $176 million.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

On Oct. 7, the Powerball Lottery altered the number of red and white balls to try and increase the number of secondary prize winners while making it harder to win the top prize.The previous odds were 1 in 175 million.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

The awkward adaptation of author EL James' erotic novel nabbed five prizes at Saturday's Golden Raspberry Awards, including tying it up with superhero flop "Fantastic Four" as the year's worst film.

LOS ANGELES -- "Fifty Shades of Grey" came out on top -- or perhaps the bottom -- at this year's Razzies.

The awkward adaptation of author EL James' erotic novel nabbed five prizes at Saturday's Golden Raspberry Awards, including tying it up with superhero flop "Fantastic Four" as the year's worst film.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" also "won" for worst screenplay, worst actor for Jamie Dornan and worst actress for Dakota Johnson, with the pair pinning down the worst screen combo award.

In addition to tying for worst film of the year, "Fantastic Four" was also lambasted as worst remake, rip-off or sequel and earned the worst director prize for Josh Trank.

Other dishonors included Kaley Cuoco as worst supporting actress for "Alvin & The Chipmunks: Road Chip" and Eddie Redmayne as worst supporting actor for "Jupiter Ascending." Redmayne won the best actor trophy at last year's Academy Awards for portraying Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything."

Sylvester Stallone, who is nominated in the supporting actor category at the Oscars for reprising his role as Rocky Balboa in "Creed," was bestowed with the Razzies' redeemer award, which lauds past Razzies recipients for recent work that's revived their careers.

The winners of the 36th annual Razzies were announced Saturday at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, across town from the Dolby Theater where the 88th annual Academy Awards will be presented Sunday.

The Razzies, which were launched in 1980 as a spoof of Hollywood's awards season, were selected this year by 943 voting members from 48 U.S. states and 20 foreign countries.

Police say three Virginia officers were shot in a domestic related incident in Prince William County on Saturday night.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia police officer was shot and killed Saturday on her first day back with her department after being sworn in, and two of her colleagues were wounded in a confrontation stemming from a call about an argument.

A county leader said a civilian woman was also killed in the domestic dispute.

Officers received a call around 5:30 Saturday evening in Woodbridge, about 30 miles southwest of the nation's capital, about a "verbal argument," Sgt. Jonathan Perok, spokesman of the Prince William County Police Department, said. It's not clear how the altercation between the suspect and police began but the suspect, a military serviceman, is in custody and was not injured, he said. The condition of the other two officers is not known.

The department announced on its Facebook page that Officer Ashley Guindon had died from the injuries she sustained in the shooting.

A picture of Guindon was posted to the department's Twitter page on Friday with a tweet that read, "Welcome Officers Steven Kendall & Ashley Guindon who were sworn in today & begin their shifts this weekend. Be Safe!" It is not known if the other officer in the tweet was involved in the shooting incident.

Guindon had been a county police officer a few years ago and had left and returned to the force, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press Saturday night. He did not know the exact dates of when she started and left, he said.

Another woman was killed in the domestic call and was dead before police arrived, Stewart said, but police declined to confirm that information. Stewart also said there was a child in the house during the incident who was not harmed.

Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert told The Associated Press Saturday night that he has authorized a capital murder charge, along with other counts, against the suspect, who has not been identified.

At Inova Fairfax Hospital, where the three officers were flown by helicopter after the shooting, more than 100 patrol cars lined the roads outside early Sunday morning to stand vigil and escort Guindon's body to the medical examiner.

The shooting occurred in the Lake Ridge neighborhood, on a curving street with $500,000 suburban houses with brick and siding exteriors, manicured lawns and two-car garages about a five-minute drive from the county office building.

Until Saturday evening, the big news in the police department was the planned retirement of Chief Steve Hudson, who announced two weeks ago that he will step down at the end of March, and officers' plans to do a "polar bear" plunge on Saturday morning to raise money for Special Olympics.

Police said the incident is still being investigated.

There were a total of 34 contestants for the position.

CHICOPEE - A panel of judges crowned Kyleigh Morin as the 2016 Colleen at the annual ball held Saturday night.

The judges also selected four contestants Kaylee Krajewski, Lauren Foley, Anna Kot and Ella Dion as the members of the Colleen's Court. The five winners will ride on the special float, designed and built by the Chicopee Parade Committee, in the March 20 St. Patrick's Parade in Holyoke.

Judges also honored Catlin O'Brien with the Irish Spirit Award. She will march in the parade with the Parade Committee.

There were a total of 34 contestants competing to become the Colleen or a member of her court. Contestants this year attend Chicopee High, Comprehensive High and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter schools.

To be eligible to compete, girls had to be between 17 and 22-years-old. They also have to reside in Chicopee.

During the event at the Castle of Knights, the contestants were judged on accomplishments, personality, poise and appearance. Judges selected five finalists and asked each a question to select the Colleen.

The Colleen receives a free trip to Ireland and all 34 contestants are eligible to apply for a St. Patrick's Parade Committee scholarship.

One person was killed and another seriously injured when a pickup truck crossed the Meridian on I-495 in Norwood and slammed head-on into a compact car Saturday afternoon,

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

Massachusetts State Police officials reported in a written statement, that troopers were called to the scene of a two-car collision on I-495 near Exit 10 in Norton just after 6 p..m Saturday afternoon. Investigators at the scene said it appeared that a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck traveling north on I-495 ran off the left side of the highway, crossed over the median and slammed head-on into a Toyota Prius.

The driver of the Prius was killed in the crash while a passenger in the compact car was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition. The pickup truck driver, listed as a 41-year-old male from Mashpee, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation by troopers from the Foxboro Barracks.

A Dalton man was arrested after a woman told police he refused to let her out of his car until she had sex with him.

File 

John Powers, 51, was arrested Wednesday after the victim told police he locked her in his truck and would not let her out after she wouldn't have sex with him, the Berkshire Eagle reported.

The woman told Pittsfield police that she accepted his offer of a ride Wednesday afternoon as she was walking on Elm Street. The two had originally met about a year before.

Once in the truck, Powers allegedly asked the woman for sex and she refused. He then locked the doors of the truck and held the passenger door shut, while he drove around the city demanding she have sex with him.

At one point the truck slowed to make a corner and the woman was able to open the door and jumped out of the moving truck. Police noted she was wearing torn jeans, her boots were scuffed and she had a hand injury consistent with falling on pavement.

Powers truck was stopped later in Dalton and he was taken into custody by Dalton police. He was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court Friday and released on $300 cash pending a March 22 pretrial hearing.

Springfield police seized 606 bags of heroin marked with "Flat Line" logos; five grams of pure heroin; eight bags of marijuana and more than $2,400 in cash during a raid at 127 Cedar St.

SPRINGFIELD - Police raided what they called a "heroin distribution den" on Friday night, netting multiple arrests - including a woman already outfitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Police spokesman Sgt. John M. Delaney said a team of narcotics officers executed a search warrant at 127 Cedar St. There, they seized 606 bags of heroin marked with "Flat Line" logos; five grams of pure heroin; eight bags of marijuana and more than $2,400 in cash.

"Detectives set up surveillance and arrested several customers that were purchasing heroin and then raided the home. Three drug dealing suspects were arrested without incident," Delaney said in a press release.

Among the three was Victoria Ann Dones, 30, of 127 Cedar St., who was outfitted with a Sheriff's Department electronic monitoring bracelet, according to Delaney. The nature of the previous conviction that led to Dones wearing the tracking device was not immediately clear.

She was charged with two drug distribution counts and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Also arrested was Crystal Dones, 28, of the same address. She was charged with three counts of drug possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

The third person placed under arrest was Juan Carlos Febus, 28, of the same address. He was charged with five criminal counts including distribution, possession with intent and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

The investigation was led by Lt. Alberto Ayala and Det. Edwin Hernandez.

Delaney said the three will be held without bail over the weekend until their arraignments Monday in Springfield District Court.

"If you continue to deal heroin in Springfield you will find yourself behind bars," he added.

A press conference will be held in Boston in support of Hillary Clinton for President.

BOSTON — Sen. Ed Markey, (D-Mass.) will express his support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton this morning in Boston.

Markey will be joined by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, New England Regional Council of Carpenters Executive Secretary/Treasurer Mark Erlich, and families impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Clinton was the first presidential candidate to release a comprehensive plan to address the prescription drug and heroin crisis, including $10 billion in funding to expand treatment and recovery services, according to a prepared statement released by Markey's office.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Gerald Herbert 

In 2014, Massachusetts experienced more than 1,300 deaths due to opioid overdoses.

The group will show their support for Clinton during a press conference in Boston at 11 a.m.

Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon was shot and killed Saturday night while responding to a domestic dispute call. Two fellow officers were injured.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The young Virginia police officer who was killed Saturday night responding to a domestic dispute call was the niece of West Springfield detective Thomas Guindon.

The West Springfield Police Department Facebook page first posted the story detailing the incident that led to Prince William County, Virginia, Police Officer Ashley Guidion's death, and later posted a condolence to her uncle.

"West Springfield Police are with heavy hearts today after learning of the fatal shooting of Ashley Guindon on her first night of duty. Ashley is the niece of West Springfield Police Detective Thomas Guindon," the post reads.

More than 150 comments have appeared on the Facebook page giving condolences to Guindon, his wife Joanne and their extended family.

"Police lives matter thoughts & prayers go out to the Guindon family," read one post.

According to the Associated Press, Guindon was fatally shot a day after being sworn in, and two of her colleagues were wounded while responding to a reported argument at a northern Virginia home, authorities said.

A county official said a civilian woman was also killed in the domestic dispute.

Prince William County Police Dept. Facebook page »

Prince William County Police Dept. Twitter page »

Ronald Hamilton, 32, is being held without bond in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center on charges that include murder of a law enforcement officer.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP) -- An Army staff sergeant assigned to the Pentagon was arrested on murder and other charges in the death of a police officer and another person, authorities said Sunday.

Ronald Hamilton, 32, is being held without bond in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center on charges that include murder of a law enforcement officer. He is accused of shooting and killing Officer Ashley Guindon after she answered a domestic violence call at the Hamilton home Saturday evening. Two other officers were hospitalized with injuries.

The suspect is an active duty Army staff sergeant assigned to the Joint Staff Support Center at the Pentagon, according to Cindy Your, a Defense Information Systems Agency spokeswoman based at Fort Meade, Maryland.

MORE: Virginia officer killed was niece of West Springfield detective

The death of Ashley Guindon was just the latest tragedy to strike the family. Her father, David, committed suicide the day after he returned home from Iraq, where he served with the New Hampshire Air National Guard. He was buried with full military honors on Aug. 26, 2004.

"He came home and took his own life," said Dorothy Guindon, Ashley's grandmother.

Ashley was his only child.

Ashley was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. The family later moved to Merrimack, New Hampshire, according to her grandmother.

"This is really a shock to us," Dorothy Guindon said. "Ashley was such a nice person."

Officer Brandon Carpenter at the county's adult detention center says Hamilton is being held without bond at the jail on charges that include murder of a law enforcement officer, first-degree murder charge, two counts of malicious assault and two counts of use of a firearm during a felony.

Hamilton is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning.

Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert told The Associated Press on Sunday morning that the gunman's wife was the victim in the domestic incident. He did not provide her name.

The shooting occurred Saturday evening at Hamilton's home in Woodbridge, where neighbors say he lived with his wife and their 10-year-old son.

Officers received a call around 5:30 p.m. Woodbridge, about 30 miles southwest of the nation's capital, about a "verbal argument," Perok said.

A picture of Guindon was posted to the department's Twitter page on Friday with a tweet that read, "Welcome Officers Steven Kendall & Ashley Guindon who were sworn in today & begin their shifts this weekend. Be Safe!" It is not known if the other officer in the tweet was involved in the shooting incident.

Guindon had been a county police officer a few years ago and had left and returned to the force, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Saturday night. He did not know the exact dates of when she started and left, he said.

Stewart also said there was a child in the house during the incident who was not harmed.

At Inova Fairfax Hospital, where the three officers were flown by helicopter after the shooting, more than 100 patrol cars lined the roads outside early Sunday morning to stand vigil and escort Guindon's body to the medical examiner.

The shooting occurred in the Lake Ridge neighborhood, on a curving street with $500,000 suburban houses with brick and siding exteriors, manicured lawns and two-car garages about a five-minute drive from the county office building.

The nearly 2 minute long announcement plays recordings of fake IRS messages left on home and cell phones.

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan Photo by Mary Serreze  

NORTHAMPTON — Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan is warning citizens of an Internal Revenue Service scam involving phone messages requesting money.

Sullivan appears in the nearly 2-minute video announcement filmed by Greenfield Community Television assuring people that the IRS will not call people personally demanding money or claiming to sue them.

"The IRS will not call you, they will not demand immediate payment without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal," he says in the PSA.

Other things the IRS will not do include leaving voicemail requests that demand money be paid by wiring or prepaid debit cards, they will not ask for credit card information over the phone or threaten to have you arrested for not paying.

"Don't fall for the scam," Sullivan adds before listing places people should call if they receive a voicemail or call from a person or automated system claiming to be the IRS.

In Hampshire County call (413) 586-9225, in Franklin County call (413) 774-3186.

To view the PSA click here.

Authorities are investigating the suspicious death of a 34-year-old man found on a sidewalk Sunday morning.

CHELSEA - Authorities are investigating the suspicious death of a 34-year-old man found on a sidewalk Sunday morning.

Chelsea Police said officers were called to 83 Cottage St. just before 5 a.m. and found the man on the ground. The man was rushed to a hospital in Everett where he was pronounced dead.

Police did not release the name of the victim. Chelsea Police and State Police Detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call (617) 466-4805.

This is the first instance of car rims and tires being stolen in Granby.

GRANBY — Police in Granby are reminding residents to keep their car doors locked and to keep an eye out for any unusual activity in their neighborhoods after responding to a theft on East Street last week.

Police responded to the home on Wednesday after the owner of a Honda Accord parked in the driveway reported the theft of the car's rims and tires, police posted on the department's Facebook page.

"While this is the first instance in Granby, several communities have had numerous accounts of the same type of crime throughout our region. Residents should know that not only were the tires and rims stolen but items were taken from inside the vehicle as well," according to Police Chief Alan Wishart

Residents are asked to call the police department immediately if something seems suspicious or out of order. Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents is asked to contact the department at (413) 467-9222.

Bernie Sanders will make a last minute campaign stop in Massachusetts Monday -- one day before voters in the state will cast ballots in the 2016 presidential primaries.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Bernie Sanders will make a last minute campaign stop in Massachusetts Monday -- one day before voters in the state will cast ballots in the 2016 presidential primaries.

Sanders, who stopped in Boston and Amherst last week, will rally support for his Democratic White House bid during an evening rally in Milton, his campaign announced Sunday.

Doors for the campaign rally at Milton High School, will open at 4:30 p.m. The event will begin at 7 p.m.

Sanders announced the rally just one day after Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign said it would stop in Springfield, Worcester and Boston on Monday.

Polls predict a tight race between the Democratic candidates in Massachusetts, which joins about a dozen other states in heading to the polls on so-called "Super Tuesday." The outcome of Tuesday's primary elections could help decide whether Sanders has a shot at winning the party's nomination this summer.

The Vermont senator has visited Massachusetts throughout his presidential run, with stops in Springfield and Boston in October and Amherst in early January.

A 23-year-old Newbury woman died Sunday after she lost control of her car on Interstate 495 and struck a tree off of the highway. The woman struck another vehicle during the accident, according to State Police.

MERRIMAC - A 23-year-old Newbury woman died Sunday after she lost control of her car on Interstate 495 and struck a tree off of the highway. The woman struck another vehicle during the accident, according to State Police.

Troopers were called to investigate a two-car crash on I-495 north in Merrimac just before noon on Sunday.

The preliminary investigation by Trooper Scott Campbell shows a 2008 Toyota Scion was heading north on the highway in the left lane when the female driver lost control and veered left into the median.

"The operator attempted to re-enter the left travel lane, but swerved across all three lanes hitting a vehicle traveling north in the right lane," State Police said. "The Toyota exited the roadway and struck a tree."

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she died. The driver of the other vehicle was not hurt. The accident remains under investigation.

Meghan Brzezinski, who co-owns To Dye For, wanted to do something for the hospital that has provided her daughter Harper Connor with specialized care.

EASTHAMPTON -- At noon Sunday, a popular salon here was filled with people and bustling with good cheer as beauticians wielded scissors and shampoo for a good cause -- and 120 haircuts later, "Ms. Harper's Cut-a-Thon" had raised $4,500 for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield. 

The cut-a-thon, which offered $10 haircuts for four hours straight, was organized by Meghan Brzezenski and Alicia Duprey, who co-own To Dye For at 66 Northampton St. Brzezenski is the mother of four-year-old Harper Connor, who receives specialized care at the Shriners hospital.

Brzezenski said she wanted to give back to the institution that has done so much for her family.

Harper suffers from a condition called Poland Syndrome. She is missing the large pectoral muscle on the right side of her chest, and also has a related chest wall deformity. Starting at around first grade, Harper will have to spend several years in a body brace. She is now at Young World daycare, and will start kindergarten at the Easthampton public schools in the fall of 2017.

"We're here to support a good cause, and support a local business," said Garnette Sherry of Southampton, whose three-year-old twins Kingsley and Benji unwillingly received stylish new haircuts.

A number of local celebrities, including Aristide "Johnny" Daniele, owner of Nini's Italian Ristorante on Cottage Street, participated in the event. "My daughter is really good friends with Harper," said Daniele.

Craig A. Kazin, a member of the Springfield hospital's board of directors, said he was happy. "It's gratifying to see the turnout here today," he said. The hospital provides specialized care in orthopaedics, cleft lip and palate surgery, and rheumatology, and helps children regardless of their families' ability to pay.

It wouldn't be a Shriners event without clowns, and "Fix-It" and "Beeper" were found making balloon-twist animals for children. "It's all about the kids," said Fix-It, otherwise known as Jerry Ducharme. "We make trips to the hospitals and we have a blast. Hopefully, we bring a few smiles."

The event was run on volunteer effort. Michelle Greaves, who helped greet guests, is a member of the Ahlem Temple No. 84, known as Daughters of the Nile. "We're a ladies' group that supports the Shriners Hospital," she said.

Betty Duprey, mother of Alicia Duprey, kept tabs on a lengthy waiting list. She said it was heartwarming to see so many people come out for Harper and her mom. "We're just very appreciative of our community," she said.

Brzezinski said she was grateful to those who donated raffle prizes, the stylists and barbers, volunteers, Shriners clowns, and the people who took time from their weekend to show their support.

"Harper was so happy to see everyone, we are so blessed to have our community stand by her," said Brzezinski.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Dozens of Donald Trump supporters gathered in the city's downtown Sunday afternoon to urge support for the GOP presidential front-runner's White House run.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Dozens of Donald Trump supporters gathered in downtown Springfield Sunday to urge support for the GOP presidential front-runner's White House run.

Backers, who gathered for the afternoon rally outside Springfield City Hall, hoisted "Trump" signs, chanted the businessman's name and touted the campaign's slogan "Make America Great Again."

While the event sought to serve solely as a launching point for the campaign's final get-out-the-vote push in Massachusetts -- a state Trump is expected to win on Tuesday -- it also drew a handful of vocal protesters.

State Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, the co-chair of Trump's Massachusetts campaign, said the rally reflects the grassroots-level support the businessman has garnered in the state and across the country.

"People are really out on street corners holding signs for him, they're working the offices with phone-banking, this is really an outpouring of a lot of the support he's been getting. It's really a grassroots things," he said in an interview.

Diehl added that he believes Trump's success in places like Massachusetts -- where polls give him double the support of the next-closest GOP candidate -- is because he appeals to voters outside of the Republican base.

"It's the grassroots of people actually looking for the message to be sent not just up in Boston, but down in D.C. and they are sending a big message with Donald Trump's campaign," he said.

Aside from the delegates up for grabs on so-called "Super Tuesday," a lopsided victory for Trump in the historically blue Massachusetts could up the state's competitiveness come November, Diehl said.

"There's predictions that Massachusetts is in play in the November election. Even (Mitt) Romney conceded the state and he was governor," he said. "When you start hearing news like that, you know there's something bigger going on than I think people ever expected."

Rally-goer London Lucia, of Southwick, who said she's Trump's cousin on her grandmother's side, stressed that she's backing the businessman because he "is saying exactly what the truth is," not because of their familial ties.

"I'd be voting for him no matter what," she said in an interview. "If I was Hillary Clinton's cousin I would be hiding."

Lucia added that she really believes in what the GOP front-runner is doing and that the country needs his leadership.

"He's a very smart man, I guarantee Donald Trump knows what to do," she said. "I know because our own DNA that we're very unique thinkers and that we love people and we're people-people. He tells people he loves them all the time and he really is a genuine person."

Lucia said she thinks Trump will easily win Massachusetts' Republican presidential primary.

Edward Champigny, a Feeding Hills resident and Vietnam War veteran, meanwhile, said he attended the rally because he wants to protect America's freedom.

"I'm getting tired of weak people being in office and they lie to us right from the beginning," he said.

Champigny praised Trump's lack of a political background, saying he sees the businessman as being more honest than candidates who typically run for office.

"I know the politicians and I know what they do," he said. "He doesn't lie and no backroom deals -- it's clean."

Jesse Lederman, a Springfield political organizer, who joined a small group in protesting the rally, however, took issue with what he characterized as the level of rhetoric surrounding Trump's campaign.

"It really has to do with what type of political foundation we want to have in America," he argued. "Donald Trump and the folks that have sort of trumpeted the things that he's talking about really have rooted it in issues that are racist and misogynistic and issues that really threaten the equality that people have worked to build up for so long."

The rally came just hours after the release of a Suffolk University Poll giving Trump a two to one margin over his closest GOP rivals heading into Massachusetts' primary election.

Supporters of the businessman's Republican presidential rival, meanwhile, gathered across the street to see Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who hosted an afternoon town hall at the Mass Mutual Center.

Looking to shore up support for his Republican presidential run in the final push towards "Super Tuesday," Ohio Gov. John Kasich painted himself as a pragmatic problem-solver as his campaign stopped in Springfield Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Looking to shore up support for his Republican presidential run in the final push towards "Super Tuesday," Ohio Gov. John Kasich painted himself as a pragmatic problem-solver as his campaign stopped in Springfield Sunday.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters who crowded a meeting room at the MassMutual Center, the Ohio governor highlighted his political experience, as well as emphasized the differences between himself and other Republican candidates vying for the White House.

Kasich, who characterized himself as a candidate that "gets things done," told voters he won't promise things he doesn't believe he can deliver on if elected president and took aim at members of his party who do.

He, for example, chastised Republicans in Congress for pledging to repeal the Affordable Care Act -- known as "Obamacare" -- while President Barack Obama is still in office and has the power to veto such efforts.

"It was a phony promise. I try not to promise anything that I don't have a good shot of delivering," he said, pointing to his record of job creation and economic growth in Ohio.

If sent to the White House, Kasich said he would focus on policies he can follow through on, like bringing down the corporate tax, saving Social Security and ensuring all combat veterans have access to health care wherever they want it.

Despite taking aim at Congressional lawmakers on the ACA, Kasich shied from leveling any direct critiques on his GOP rivals. He blasted the race's focus on shouting and personal attacks.

"I have never seen a leader -- or anybody who's attempting to be a leader -- who has to raise their voice and yell and scream," he said. "I think about some of the ones who I have most admired in my lifetime...I never heard Ronald Reagan raise his voice or personally attack anybody that he was engaged with."

Kasich compared American politics to a NASCAR race, calling the media's focus on the negative disgraceful.

"We go to those races and want to see something happen that ain't great on turn three in Talladega," he said. "But when we go to the races we don't want to see a crackup every time they go around the track. And that's what we're getting today in American politics."

The Ohio governor contended that the American people are tired of the political mudslinging and want to focus on the issues -- despite the success more controversial candidates like GOP front-runner Donald Trump have seen.

Russell Hubley, of Longmeadow, said he's among those voters tired of the shouting. He praised Kasich's record, as well as the candidate's decision to "not allow himself to get down into the muck."

"We don't need one of those leading this country," Hubley said in an interview. "He's there to get a job done and not point fingers and he's proved, not only in Ohio, he's been in Washington before, and now no one else can say that."

Liane Pueschel, of South Hadley, who also attended the town hall event, meanwhile, said she sees Kasich as being "more presidential."

"He's a very faith-held man, he's a very capable man and he really does have the heart of the people in his heart," she said. "I just feel he would make a very good president."

Kasich's Springfield town hall came as part of a campaign swing through the Bay State before voters in Massachusetts and several other states cast ballots in the presidential primaries. He will take his campaign to Plymouth Monday.

Despite Kasich's focus on Massachusetts, a Suffolk University Poll released Sunday placed the governor third among like GOP primary voters in the state. Kasich received just 17 percent of support in the survey compared to Trump's 43 percent and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's, R-Fla., 20 percent.

While Kasich acknowledged that he is unlikely to see any major victories on Super Tuesday, he stressed that Massachusetts is an important state to his campaign.

"We think we're have a pretty fair showing up here, maybe a good showing. We'll see, it's hard to say," he said in an interview. "Massachusetts is great and it's a place where we decided wanted to put some time in."