SEABROOK, Mass. — About two weeks ago, when local tattoo shop owner Bob Holmes mentioned to a British reporter he’d give free Donald Trump tattoos to anyone supporting the candidate, little did he know how much ink he’d be investing. 

“About a week and a half ago, I was just talking to this newspaper guy from London, England,” Holmes said yesterday. “He went back to England and posted the story, and it’s just been crazy ever since.”

As of Tuesday, Holmes and colleague Anthony Sheehan have created more than 20 Donald Trump tattoos for customers, with three more scheduled for yesterday alone. Most of those now carrying Trump’s face on their shoulders, arms, legs or wherever are in their 20s, he said, and the ratio of male to female is about even, maybe even tipping a bit toward women who want to adorn themselves with a picture of the New York City real estate billionaire turned presidential candidate.

And Holmes is not done yet. He said between his Clay Dragon Tattoo locations in Seabrook and Raymond, New Hampshire, he and Sheehan have a few free Trump tattoos scheduled every day for the next couple of weeks. 

“It’s kind of crazy how many people want one of these,” said Sheehan, who inked a Trump on the arm of a customer on-air at a radio studio on Monday.

Holmes has been a tattoo artist for 32 years, with a business on Route 1 in Seabrook for 26 of them. A staunch Trump-for-President supporter, the response to his offer surprised him. 

The cost of the Trump Tattoo, depending on size, could range in price from $100 to $200, he said. So far, he’s given away thousands of dollars worth of his ink, time and talent. And while he said getting the “The Donald’s” trademark pompadour hairstyle correct is tricky and the key to tattoo success, Holmes isn’t wavering from his offer or support of his candidate.

“We need to get rid of the politicians,” Holmes said. “Having someone run who is not a politician, but who is a businessman who can do what he says he’s going to do instead of just paying lip service, is important to me.” 

Trump didn’t do as well as he had hoped in the Iowa GOP caucuses Monday night, coming in second. Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz marked the win with 28 percent of the vote and eight convention delegates. Trump edged out first-term Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, 24 percent to 23 percent, respectively. Both will take seven delegates each to the Republican National Convention this summer, if they stay in the race.  

At a survey conducted with New Hampshire voters over last weekend by pollster American Research Group of Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump was up with 34 percent, followed by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 16 percent, Rubio at 11 percent, Cruz at 10 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 9 percent and sitting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 6 percent. 

Heavy negative television and radio advertising and mailings against Kasich have had some impact on Kasich among registered Republicans, according to AMG’s Dick Bennett, who predicted it has had more of a positive impact on Trump rather than the other candidates. 

Among registered Granite State Republicans, Trump is at 32 percent, according to AMG’s last poll, up from 15 percent in December and 28 percent only last week.

Holmes isn’t surprised Trump’s done well among his customers or New Hampshire voters, he said.

“I think we’re very patriotic in New Hampshire,” Holmes said. “I think people are looking for a choice of someone who will make America great again, make it respected again by the rest of the world. With Trump, if something happens, if ISIS attacks again, he’s going to respond and hit them hard.”  

Chiaramida writes for the Newburyport, Massachusetts Daily News.