The former Governor of Alabama, George Wallace tried similar tactics in 1968. and wasn't elected by a mile:

In a city torn by racial strife, Wallace continued tonight his practice of taunting his heck- lers, both black and white who chanted continuously as the for- mer Alabama governor spoke. Wallace supporters struck handcuffed hecklers as they were being led away by police, who did not interfere. One plainclothes policeman, using a pair of handcuffs as brass knuckles, cut the f a c e of a heckler who shoved him. Scuffles broke out even be- fore Wallace arrived, one of them during the playing of the National Anthem when Wallac- ites pummeled a group of demonstrators and tore their signs. Police used an irritating chemical spray to break up the melee. Wallace was only 20 seconds into his campaign speech, the part in which he introduces a group of Alabama labor figures traveling with him, when he unleashed his first taunt at the hecklers. In recent campaign days, Wallace has welcomed hecklers, shouting back at them to elicit exuberant cheers from his supporters.

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On the floor were 1,000 Wallace supporters sitting on metal folding chairs. The balconies were full with several thousand more supporters. Mondo and about 50 other protestors, mostly black, gained entry to the main floor and marched right in front of the podium charging up the crowd as shouts rang out.

Wallace delayed his entrance for nearly an hour while tempers flared from the front rows where some of Wallace’s most fervent supporters were seated. After Wallace came out to a thunderous ovation the protestors got busy and jeered nearly every word.

Soon some of the protestors began tearing up their signs and throwing the bits of paper and stick at Wallace. Mondo attempted to stop the group from pelting Wallace but was sprayed in the face with mace by an undercover policeman. Two of the other demonstrators helped Mondo outside through a side door.

Police moved in to clear the aisles and suddenly the floor erupted in violence as Wallace supporters began hitting the trapped protestors with the metal chairs. The bloody battling continued outside the Arena where $1,200 worth of windows were broken. Before the night was over the Near North Side was in riot.

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Sound familiar?