A large crowd waits to enter the Colorado Jet Center for a John McCain rally in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. (Chuck Bigger, Special to The Denver Post)Posted on 09/06/2008 12:19:46 PM PDT by GVnana
A large crowd waits to enter the Colorado Jet Center for a John McCain rally in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. (Chuck Bigger, Special to The Denver Post)
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — In just the second day out on the campaign trail with running mate Sarah Palin, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain will get a rock star's welcome this morning at the Colorado Jet Center.
Campaign staff say more than 10,000 people are expected to crowd into and overflow out of an airplane hangar at the Colorado Springs airport. They began lining up as early as 5:30 a.m., even though doors for the event didn't open until 9 a.m.
Palin is scheduled to start speaking at 12:30 p.m., followed by McCain.
By the time doors did open, traffic jammed for miles around the airport and the line of people waiting to get in wound for several hundred yards around large hangars.
"We wanted to be here for this memorable day," explained Patricia Strawser, who left her Denver house with her husband, Tom, at 5 a.m.
They arrived at the airport at 6 a.m. and found 50 people already in line ahead of them.
"I've never done anything like this before," said Tom Strawser, who wore a cowboy hat adorned with little American flags. "Nothing."
The crowd was made up of both veterans of political rallies and first-timers. Patricia Strawser said she worked for Democrat Al Gore's campaign in 2000. Tom Strawser said McCain's pick of Palin, the quick-witted, charismatic and conservative Alaska governor, made all the difference.
"Sincerity," Tom Strawser summed it up. "She's very authentic. I've never been inspired by anyone else like this except Bobby Kennedy."
"It has energized the base," added Patricia Strawser, a naturalized citizen from Colombia who said she became a Republican because she feels it's the party of moral values. "And it shows how bright John McCain is. He knows how the game is played. It is game on now."
Other people in the crowd said Palin has brought an enthusiasm level to the McCain campaign that now rivals that of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama's famously devoted supporters.
"Military moms means what they say," Cathi Judy, a 52-year-old woman from Penrose whose husband is serving in the Army in Iraq and who has two children serving in the military, said in reference to Palin and her son, who is also in the military.
Radio show host Dan Caplis stirred up the crowd by pointing out several Republican women who hold elected office in the state.
"It just seems funny to hear Barack Obama say that he's for equal opportunity for women," Caplis said. "Tell that to Hillary Clinton."
He then led the crowd in chants of "Palin power!"
Sitting high up in the bleachers adjacent to the stage, Lorena Mitchell said she thought McCain would have received a rousing reception in Colorado Springs regardless of whom he chose as his running mate.
"This is typical El Paso County," said Mitchell, a Colorado Springs resident who is a lifelong Republican who has served as a party precinct chair for several years.
She said she has attended rallies for five presidents and several presidential candidates but has never seen McCain speak in-person.
"I thought, 'Gosh, if he's this close, I ought to come see him and show people I support him,'" she said.
But sitting down in the crowd, Mitchell's brother, George Mitchell, said he wasn't so sure. Mitchell, a Democrat, said he came with his sister and his girlfriend, who is also a Republican, to the rally. He held a sign reading "Maverick" over his head, but he said that was to block the intense morning sun.
"I'm still undecided," he said. "I came here to see what he looks like. Obama scares me too."
And, as for Palin, he was equally skeptical.
"I have nothing against hockey moms, don't get me wrong," he said invoking Palin's oft-quoted self characterization. "But c'mon, you've got to have a little more experience than that."
Lorena Mitchell was chuckled at her brother's skepticism.
"I think this will change his mind," she said.
Colorado Springs was a ticketed event. Judging by the photos a lot of people were outside the venue.
VP should do the trick nicely and becoming POTUS would make it a hat trick.
He already did plenty for our country. He’s an American hero.
My whole reason for not voting for McCain was that it would probably lead to a continual shift to the left for the Republicans (”only a moderate can be elected”). Now I’m willing to put up with a shift to the left knowing that the future Captain is standing on the deck waiting to grab the tiller and steer it to the right again. (And the RNC KNOWS that is they only reason why McCain got elected in the first place - because of Palin!)
Yeah, I agree. Sarah does need fresh material. But this redundancy is fairly common. I’ll bet Obami has said “my salvation doesn’t happen without our collective salvation” at least a thousand times. And his mantra about change is sheer bullshit. This guy can’t possibly bring change. He’s too beholden to trial lawyers, teacher’s unions and other special interests who tell him what to do.
have you never experienced these things before? they ALL do that right after the convention...
very true
Home video of McCain at Colorado Springs (red meat here!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSXQMBJRsYY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6rSV-Yntow
Why don't you just go ahead and say, "Mitt would do better than THAT! He had all his stump speeches as VP candidate prepared six months ago."
Video: McCain Campaign Recovers Disgarded Democrat Flags, Colorado Springs 8/5/2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0mPmDnlvI
See post #72 for excellent video.
Sarah is a lot like McCain she needs very little sleep. She has often said she only sleeps 3- 4 hours a night.
People seem to forget Obama gave his word to McCain said he would take public financing if McCain did gave his word! then backed out! That in itself tells me a lot about the character of that man
Mccain rally in MO live feed
http://www.blogsforjohnmccain.com/mccain-palin-rally-lees-summit-missouri-begins-1000-am-cdt-watch-live-video
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