OxfordPress.com

LEBANON — Historians may marvel that the Republican presidential ticket's visit to the Golden Lamb today could be the 13th by a U.S. president if Arizona Sen. John McCain wins in November.

But contemporary political watchers may find this number more interesting: this is McCain's 18th visit to Ohio since mid-April. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, is in Dayton today for what his campaign says is his eighth campaign stop in the state during the general election.

Today, about 5,000 people are expected to come see McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Gates open at 7 a.m. on Broadway Street in front of the Golden Lamb. Music and opening speakers will be featured starting at 8:30 a.m., and McCain and Palin are scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. Entry is free.

"It's pretty exciting," said Mainville resident Kristin Shea, who was shopping in Lebanon Monday, Sept. 8, and said she is coming back with her family today.

Shea, like many, is particularly interested in Palin, who people are still learning about after she was launched into the national spotlight at a rally in Dayton last month, when she was named the first woman to a GOP presidential ticket.

"I think it's great that she's a mom and running for vice president," she said. "Women have to multi-task all of the time, so why not?"

It's also a big day for the small city itself. There are several municipal parking lots throughout downtown, but parking will likely be at a premium.

South Broadway between Main and Mulberry streets was closed Monday for the visit, but Mulberry Street will remain open. Main Street between East and Sycamore streets will close early this morning. Businesses between Main and Mulberry on Broadway were asked to close this morning.

"Lebanon is a quaint, small town with a lot of history," said Laura Ferguson, who works at the Heritage House shop nearby. "Many presidents have come here before and I think that candidates want to follow in those footsteps. And, having the Golden Lamb as a backdrop? Well, it's a great setting for something like this, isn't it?"

But the city wasn't chosen for its history.

"Southwest Ohio is a critical region in this election, and this visit will build on the renewed enthusiasm for the McCain/Palin ticket," Said Paul Lindsay, McCain's Ohio campaign spokesman.

"These are two mavericks who have achieved results by challenging the status quo, and that is the record they will bring to Washington in order to fix a broken system and get our economy moving again," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.