Live From the McCain-Palin Rally in Virginia Beach
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — I arrived moments ago at the McCain-Palin rally at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The section designated for the national traveling press is nearly empty, since most of the press has not yet arrived.
Soon after I sat down, a McCain campaign volunteer handed me this note from an audience member:
“„Please Read + Circulate
“„10/13/08
“„Dear Media,
- Is there anyway possible for you all to exert pressure on the Obama camp to allow Barack’s College Thesis to be released for review by the public…??
- Why is the media not up in arms about the 500 million a year that is going to ACORN??
- Why is there not blanket coverage of the Bailout..which the Democrates [sic] allocated 20% of the money for ACORN when the Govm’t eventually gets the Bailout money back?
- Why not more coverage on Dodd, Frank and the others responsible for the Financial meltdown.
“„Thanks For Listening!
“„[Name Withheld]
“„Hampton, Va.
Some notes about the rally:
The crowd is very large — I would estimate more than 15,000 — not bad for a Monday morning. And in the enclosed convention hall, it is very, very loud.
Many audience members are wearing red, as instructed by the campaign to “remind everyone to keep Virginia red this November.”
A string of Republican Virginia politicians is warming up the crowd, including Rep. Thelma Drake, Rep. Randy Forbes, and Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell, a gubernatorial candidate. Hank Williams Jr. is scheduled to play shortly. During those opening speeches, any mention of Sen. Barack Obama has drawn ground-shaking boos — though so far there has not been any of the vitriolic remarks from the crowd that have drawn so much attention lately.
A little while ago, an older woman passed out in the crowd and was brought into the press section — where she initially appeared not to be breathing — for emergency treatment, before being carried out on a stretcher.
Williams is taking the stage now to begin his set. I will have more when Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin take the stage.
