Posted on 09/21/2008 8:03:24 PM PDT by kristinn
County GOP leaders predict about 15,000 people will attend - making it the largest for a political event since President Ronald Reagan visited Media in 1984 on his way to a landslide re-election victory over Democratic former Vice President Walter Mondale. McCain and Palin are due to arrive between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
As of early Sunday afternoon, only about 50 tickets were left for party faithful or otherwise, said Upper Darby GOP Chairman John McNichol. The tickets were distributed to GOP leaders in the five-county Philadelphia region, with Delaware County receiving more than the others. For the second day in a row, people were standing in line for tickets at the McCain-Palin campaign headquarters and Craig Williams for Congress headquarters in Loehmann's Plaza shopping center in Pilgrim Gardens.
On Saturday, people were streaming in all day at GOP headquarters at 321 W. Front St. in Media, with as many as 100 waiting in line.
Another line was expected at Media Borough Hall, Third and Jackson streets, where a limited number of tickets for the rally were set aside noon-3 p.m. Sunday. A photo ID was required.
McNichol said the phones were very busy and he even received a call from Longport, N.J., for tickets. Ticket-seekers were advised to wear red.
McNichol said he expected a large crowd and "the weather looks like it's going to cooperate."
"It certainly can't hurt us any and will heighten the focus on the election," McNichol said. "One of the real beneficiaries of this is Craig Williams because he has a family connection with Palin."
Williams' family lived in Alaska and his brother was Palin's speechwriter during her gubernatorial campaign. Williams, a Republican looking to unseat Democrat incumbent Joe Sestak of Edgmont in the 7th Congressional District, is also slated to speak at the rally, which opens at 3 p.m.
A walk-through was scheduled at the courthouse Sunday regarding seating arrangements and the list of speakers, McNichol said.
The gates open at 3 p.m., which will allow for people to be checked with metal detectors.
About 6,000 or 7,000 individuals without tickets could also turn out for the rally.
Those without tickets will likely be situated outside a perimeter established by the Secret Service in coordination with borough police and the local fire marshal.
With the Veterans Square area closed to traffic, shuttle buses will be operating between the rear parking lot of Springfield Mall and the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Orange Street.
The first bus will depart the mall at 2:30 p.m. and the last bus from Media will leave Olive Street at 9 p.m. All visitors will be required to pass through a security gate at Veterans Square and State Street.
The SEPTA trolley will continue service into Media and drivers will also find parking at the Springfield Mall. Borough and county officials have been preparing for the event at least five days, with preparations under way Saturday as workers began building the event stage, among other activities.
Police Chief Martin Wusinich said there will be a virtual ring set up around the courthouse, where parking and traffic will not be permitted: Orange to Olive Street, the north-south roads and Third to State Street, the east-west roads.
Front Street between Orange and Olive Streets was closed Saturday and Sunday as well as today for event preparations.
It was still unknown if courthouse employees would be working because of the event and traffic limitations. Meanwhile, the Brandywine Peace Community urged people to raise their voice for peace and attend the Republican rally.
They were advised to join the organization at the main intersection of Baltimore Pike and Providence Road, with parking nearby and because it's easily accessible by SEPTA Route 110 and the 69th Street-Media trolley. Banners and signs will be available or bring your own, the BPC said.
wow! PA ,yes!
I’m more confident about a win in PA than in VA and CO.
PA has lots of Jews and blue collar union voters, and they will likely to deliver a crushing defeat for bambi if the current trend continues.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I will be there tomorrow. Can’t wait.
These are all impressive events, but I hope the McCain team will start splitting up the senator and governor more, to cover more ground. I’m really kind of surprised to still see them doing so many co-appearances.
Will cameras, cells, water, and lawn chairs be banned like at the Hussein rally?
Not me. I think VA and CO will "come home" and if PA follows the trend then, well...
A Penn win will just about seal it for McCain/Palin.
Let's see a good turnout!
Good for you donnab, will or can you post pictures?
15,000? That is quite a number, normally Republicans and Conservatives are more...docile? for lack of a better word?
This may sound homerish, but I’d take 15,000 Republicans who are engaged in getting out the vote over 25,000 Democrats, we are just more focused then they are, the Dems I’ve run into are nutty and seem not to know what the heck they are doing.
Is this article really poorly written, or am I missing WHERE the author says this rally is going to be held? It sorta sounds like Upper Darby or Springfield somewhere and I can get to that area in 45 minutes, so I’d love to check this out. If I know where it is....
Its going to be at the Courthouse in Media, with parking and shuttle buses running from the Springfield Mall to the event.
ping
I will have my camera with me and will post if I can when I get back. My family is excited about attending and there will be four generations of us going.
Media, PA. The name of the town kind of makes it disappear under a conservative’s gaze... LOL ;-P
Check it out at this link.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Calendar/Detail.aspx?guid=44fcca18-e889-4922-8280-210b6122025d
I disagree. I think they need to do lots of co-appearances.. It’s clear that Sarah is driving up the turnout, these large rallies have the effect of driving local coverage, which is key to counter the spins from CNN/NBC/ABC etc.
They do have good chemistry on stage. By the way, I don’t believe there’s much ground to cover, the competitive states are simply handful.
Four generations?
Wow.
BTW I don’t know if you know this, but at the other rallies you have to leave your water bottles or umbrellas outside the meeting place.
Thanks for the tip.
They tried.
People didn’t show up for Sen. McCain.
I bet McCain and Palin don’t need the latest fad rock band to open for them in order to draw a crowd.
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