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VP pick Palin seen as agent of change by crowd
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
LEBANON — John McCain may be the headliner on the Republican presidential ticket, but it was clear his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was the major draw here Tuesday at a political rally.
"Why are we here?" said Bill Wamsley of Milford. "One word: Sarah."
His wife, Lucille, agreed. "She is the first candidate that is the whole package," she said. "She can relate to me as a woman, as a mom and as a person who shares my beliefs and morals."
The "sisterhood of motherhood" was a big reason why so many women wanted to come see Palin. "I wanted to be part of history," said Julie Fennessey of Lebanon. "Sarah Palin is a working mother, she represents women who do it all."
Fennessey said that, at first, she was concerned about the possible work-life balance, but the more she's heard about and from the candidate "the more I'm leaning toward that she can do it — these are challenges that all women face."
With "change" being such a buzzword in this presidential campaign, party supporters said that their candidates are the real agents of change in this election.
"Gov. Palin embodies the change that the other side keeps talking about," added Edward Hess of Wilmington. His reaction to having a woman on the ticket was clear. "To look at her gender is sexist," he said. "She is an individual. I mean, I'm not against Obama because he's an African American and I'm not voting for Palin because she's a woman.
The crowd reacted strongly to both McCain and Palin's support of the troops overseas.
"My son, Keith, is serving his second tour over in Iraq," said Marcella Churchill of Middletown. "I like McCain's stand on national security."
Palin's addition to the Republican ticket has also inspired those who may not of been sure about their vote.
"I was going to vote for McCain, but I wasn't very enthusiastic," said Dixie Bruggeman of Dayton, an independent. "But, when I found out that Palin was named, well, I literally felt the excitement go through me. I haven't been this excited about anyone since the John and Bobby Kennedy."
