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Supporters of Gov. Sarah Palin listen to the candidate
Gov. Sarah Palin promised yesterday that she and John McCain would balance the budget in their first term.
Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican candidate for vice president, addresses supporters at Richmond International Raceway. |
By Chelyen Davis
RICHMOND--
Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin promised she and John McCain would freeze non-essential government spending and balance the federal budget in their first term during a rally here yesterday.The Alaska governor appeared without McCain before a crowd estimated by the Associated Press to be at least 20,000 people at the Richmond International Raceway.
She and McCain also held a similarly-sized rally earlier in the day in Virginia Beach.
Palin's speech focused primarily on economic issues; she did not mention rival Democrat Barack Obama's ties to former Weatherman William Ayers, a connection the McCain campaign has been pushing in recent days.
Instead, she said Americans are rightly angry at greedy Wall Street bankers, corrupt Washington, and arrogant Washington insiders who have helped create the current economic recession and financial banking crisis.
"John McCain is going to turn that anger into action," Palin said. "He will balance the federal budget by the end of our term."
She said she and McCain plan to freeze federal spending, limiting it to vital government functions--she cited worker retraining programs and care for military veterans as examples--and will provide tax relief for citizens and businesses as well.
Palin said Obama's tax plan--which Obama says will provide tax relief for 95 percent of Americans--and Obama's spending proposals are both unwise.
"We're going to get this economy back on the right track," she said. "Taxes are already too high, and [Obama] wants to raise them Barack Obama would make us even deeper in debt."
Palin also spoke about energy policy, discussing clean coal at some length since Virginia is a coal-producing state. She said investment in coal and nuclear energy will create new jobs.
She also promised to be an advocate for families with special-needs children. Palin's infant son, Trig, born earlier this year, has Down Syndrome, and she said she will "make sure in the White House that these families have a friend, have an advocate."
Stafford County Republican chairwoman Susan Stimpson attended the rally, and said she was glad to hear Palin outline the Republican plan to stimulate the economy.
"What she said was substantive. She did a good job of pointing out, it is so crucial right now with the economy, the next administration is going to have to be proactive in figuring out a plan for stimulating, getting the economy going again," Stimpson said.
"And their answer is tax cuts and small business tax cuts and I think she did a good job of articulating how to right the economy She [also] did a good job of pointing out Barack Obama does not understand the economy."
Stimpson also noted that Palin pointed out that McCain is the only candidate who has served his country in the military.
Palin was greeted--and sometimes interrupted--by chants of "Sarah, Sarah" and "Drill, baby, drill" from the enthusiastic crowd.
A number of women were wearing pink "Team Sarah" shirts; many in the crowd waved signs, some featuring Palin sayings like "You Betcha."
At one point, Palin mistook some of her own fans--about 100 yards from the stage--for hecklers.
After they began chants of "Louder! Louder!" Palin stopped her remarks briefly and addressed them, saying, "I hope those protesters have the courage and honor to give veterans thanks for their right to protest."
Palin was accompanied by her husband, Todd, and by Martin Buser, a four-time winner of Alaska's Iditarod sled-dog race.
She also brought a surprise guest--musician Hank Williams Jr., who sang the national anthem and his hit "Family Tradition," with lyrics reworked to praise McCain and Palin and criticize the media.
McCain has been running behind Obama in the latest polls, but Palin--and other Republicans who warmed up the crowd--urged the crowd not to give up.
"Our race is going to be close, it's going to be a real sprint to the finish line, and it's a long way from being decided," Palin said. "It will be with your support, Virginia, that we will be victorious."
Before Palin took the stage, U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore, a former governor, also reminded the crowd the race is "not yet decided" and said voters are still "unsettled" on issues of terrorism, the economy and energy policy.
"The question is, who do you trust? And the answer is, McCain, Palin, Gilmore," said Gilmore, who is running against Democrat Mark Warner, also a former governor.
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, also up for re-election and facing Democrat Bill Day, said Palin's experience as a small-town mayor is worth more than it's being given credit for.
"Having served as mayor of a small town, don't dare underestimate that experience and what it takes to get things done," said Wittman, who was mayor of Montross.
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
