Palin’s Orlando appearance brings out women supporters
Excerpt:
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THE VILLAGES — Sarah Palin did what vice presidential nominees are expected to do. She talked up her running mate, John McCain and zinged Democratic rival Barack Obama in a speech here this afternoon.
It was fairly conventional fare, but the similarities to a standard VP candidate appearance ended there.
Presidential race
The first Florida campaign stop by the Alaska governor and Republican phenom drew a crowd estimated at 60,000 by officials in this Central Florida retirement community.
It was the largest crowd ever for a political event at The Villages, community spokesman Gary Lester said. The Republican bastion is a frequent stopping place for GOP candidates.
More than four hours before Palin arrived, cars and golf carts jammed nearby roads and thousands of people clogged the Disneyesque Sumter Landing town center area to wait in the baking heat for a glimpse of Palin.
Palin T-shirts, buttons and hats - most of them making reference to lipstick, pit bulls, hockey or some combination of those elements - were everywhere. There were also people wearing McCain items, but usually with Palin’s name on them somewhere.
Palin took the stage around 4:30 p.m. accompanied by husband Todd Palin, whom she introduced as “Alaska’s first dude,” daughters Piper and Willow and infant son Trig.
Palin’s speech lasted about 23 minutes and stuck to tested themes. She accused Obama of failing to offer a prescription for the crisis in the nation’s financial markets and said the Democrat would bring higher taxes.
She praised McCain as a “maverick” who will shake up Washington and Wall Street and hailed his military service and grit as a Vietnam POW.
Palin said her own role in a McCain administration would include focusing on government reform - “not just talking about it, but actually making change happen” - and energy independence and on helping families who have children with special needs. Palin’s youngest son has Down syndrome.
Palin’s remarks were occasionally interrupted by chants of “Sarah, Sarah” at one point and “U.S.A., U.S.A.” at another.
Deborah Abriola came from Orlando and wore a button that said “Don’t Let The Lipstick Fool You - Pitbulls for McCain-Palin” because she said she feels kinship with Palin as a fellow “lipstick mom.”
Abriola described herself as a conservative Democrat who sees Palin as a role model for mothers.
Her friend, Cheryl LeDuc, said she’s a Republican but wants to see a shakeup in the GOP. She said Palin “is conservative and she’s going to clean up Washington, including the Republicans.”
Sue Viera of Micco in Brevard County described herself as an independent who had been an “iffy” supporter of McCain.
“When he put Palin on, that really put me over the top,” said Viera, who said she sees Palin as someone who is nonpartisan and “will do what’s right.”
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/09/21/0921palinflorida.html
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I bet Tony Snow’s Dad was there .. he lives in The Villages.
We know Tony’s watching all this with glee.
I really miss Tony Snow! He would LOVE Sarah!
:)
I was thinking about Tony the other day. He would have loved Palin. RIP Tony. We love you.
I've been thinking about him so much all this month; I'm sure he's getting some celestial jollies at recent events. Dang, now my monitor's gone blurry.
That is just awesome the way people are coming out to support
her!
I would give anything if Tony were here giving his expert
opinion on this race. He would be having SO much fun!
*sigh*
“We know Tony’s watching all this with glee.”
No doubt that Tony would be thrilled!
Did you watch the 60 minutes interviews tonight with McCain and Obama?
Honestly....I don’t know how we are going to fight the MSM this election. It is almost over and they simply refuse to ask Obama about anything that might put even the slightest question mark in the minds of the American people.
I have never in my life, seen the media be as biased as they are this election cycle. Very depressing...however...this article goes a long way in cheering me up tonight. Thanks for the ping.
Thanks for mentioning Tony Snow. I was thinking about him yesterday and wishing he was still here with us.