Palin rallies at Raceway

An estimated 20,000 people gathered Monday, Oct. 13 at the Richmond International Raceway to see Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Palin thrilled the crowd with chants like “Drill baby drill, mine baby mine.”

At the rally, Palin spoke out against Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s ecomonic plan.

“America’s already deep in debt,” Palin said. “Barack Obama will put us deeper in debt.”

The majority of the audience was clad in red, to show their support for keeping Virginia a “red state.”

Palin’s husband, Todd, and country singer Hank Williams Jr. joined her on stage. Williams sang the national anthem and a song attacking liberal voters and what he called the “left-wing liberal media.”

“But most of the American people don’t believe ’em anyway you see,” Williams sang. “If they smell something wrong, they’re going to come down strong. You know, McCain-Palin tradition.”

Karen Mckinley, a graduate student studying guidance counseling, said seeing Palin in person was reason enough to attend the rally.

“I like Sarah Palin, and I wanted to see her. She’s very electric,” McKinley said.

Finance major Blair Turpin also said she was excited to see Palin, because, she says, Palin is “awesome.”

“I’m a Republican and I just wanted to come out and show my support and, hopefully, get a glimpse of her,” Turpin said.

Among the thousands of Palin supporters were roughly a dozen supporters of Obama protesting at the rally. One of the protesters, political science major and Obama campaign volunteer Daniel Lombardo, said the Palin supporters he encountered at the rally were rude to him.

“I wanted to see the opposite side,” Lombardo said. “I just can’t even believe the things that they’re saying and the things that they’re willing to vote for.”

Some students at the rally to support Palin said political involvement of any kind is commendable.

“It’s very important that VCU students are interested in any politics,” accounting major Carter Burkey said. “Republican or a Democrat is up to them, but I think it’s very important to be involved in politics at the earliest age you can possibly get involved.”

During her speech at the Raceway, Palin also spoke of the importance of getting involved in the election and asked supporters to volunteer for the campaign and to encourage their friends to vote.

“It’s going to be a real sprint to the finish line and it’s a long way from being decided,” Palin said. “That’s why John (McCain) and I are taking our thoughts for reform to every voter of every tax ground all across this great nation . whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat – if you’re no party at all – we’re asking for your vote.”