Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin warned a cold but cheering crowd here today that Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s talk of “spreading the wealth” is socialism and that the Democrat has “an ideological commitment to higher taxes.”
“Senator Obama says he wants to spread the wealth,” Palin said. “Today is not the time to experiment with socialism ... His plan to redistribute wealth punishes hard work, it will stifle creativity.”
With a week to go before the election, Palin focused much of her speech on the economy and taxes, saying that she and presidential candidate John McCain will stimulate the economy by cutting taxes on people and businesses.
“We will bring tax relief to every American and every business,” Palin said. “We need someone with a bold and free and fair plan of action to get this country moving in the right direction ... Our economic plan is a pro-growth, pro-private sector agenda.”
Fredericksburg was the second of three rallies Palin held in Virginia today. Polls are showing the race here is tight, although most give Obama a slight lead.
Palin and Virginia politicians who spoke before her told the crowd not to believe the polls, but instead to work hard in the next week to prove them wrong.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: 1:36 p.m.
The Rally is over, the rain is coming down and people are trying to get out of the rain as fast as they can.
----------- It's starting to rain and we have no shelter so this blog is taking a break!
Palin's touting McCain as the best leader in these times and outlining what she describes his pro-growth, pro-economy plans.lll
A construction worker from White Oak in southern Stafford is introducing them to the crowd.
With "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton blaring from the speakers, Todd and Sarah Palin are taking the stage.
UPDATE: 12:53 p.m.
Palin's bus just pulled up
Word is Palin's about 10 minutes away from downtown.
Now playing: "Right Here, Right Now," by Van Halen.
A man is standing behind the press bleachers holding a sign in our direction that says: "Down with NBC News, ABC News, CBS News."
We don't know his thoughts on fredericksburg.com news.
Former governor and current Senate candidate Jim Gilmore is now speaking.
"You can take it to the bank: John McCain and Sarah Palin will carry Virginia."
The park is filling up - still plenty of space on the sides and at the back, but plenty of the folk who had been waiting in line have decided to watch from just outside the gates.
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman is speaking now.
"Virginia will be a leader in selecting the next president and vice president of the United States."
Palin has not yet arrived.
Portsia also found a protester near Merryman's Auto Center holding a sign that says:
P-ro War
A-nimal killer
I-ntellectualy challenged
L-oves Bush economics
N-o friend to women
The woman, a 62-year-old grandmother, declined to give her name.
UPDATE: 12:03 p.m.
Portsia Smith reports that the line from the main gate at William Street across the street and several blocks down Amelia Street.
Del. Mark Cole just spoke.
"This is one day that I'm proud to wear pink."
State Sen. Richard Stuart is speaking now.
"I wore this red tie because i want Barack Obama Virginia's not turning blue."
From Emily Battle's City Beat blog:
I've talked to several people in line for the rally who have asked why the rally is in Hurkamp Park.
"It's as if they intentionally made it as uncomfortable as they could," Stafford resident Pamela Wiegand said. She wondered why the rally couldn't be held at the University of Mary Washington, where Barack Obama held his rally last month, or even at Maury Stadium, where the crowd could at least sit down.
I've been told by several city sources that Maury was not an option because it's public school property, and therefore off-limits for political events, and because the field is still in use for athletic events, so if it became damaged by a rally, it would interfere with those.
As for UMW, we have been told the campaign did not approach the university, and we're double-checking that.
UPDATE: UMW Spokeswoman Marty Morrison confirms that the university was not approached by the McCain campaign about today's event.
"We would have been happy to have her here," she said. "The campaign did not contact us."
Stafford Republican Chairwoman Susan Stimpson said she thinks Hurkamp works nicely, because it's situated in a small, quaint downtown setting and because it's surrounded by small businesses--a constituency at which McCain's tax argument is aggressively aimed.
"I didn't have an official say, but they did ask our input," Stimpson said. "I just think, what a great downtown feel."
- Reported by Emily Battle
The Stafford GOP chair Susan Stimpson is onstage welcoming the crowd. "Welcome to Virginia's most historic city and now let's make some history by electing the first woman vice president of the United States."
She also led the crowd in a prayer.
The Stafford GOP chair is onstage welcoming the crowd. "Welcome to Virginia's most historic city and now let's make some history by electing the first woman vice president of the United States."
Latest cheer:
Roe v. Wade has got to go
Hey, hey ho, ho
and ...
Drill, baby, drill!
"Life is a Highway," by Rascall Flats just started blaring, replacing the jazz we'd been listening to. The crowd exploded.
Some of us in the press area are wondering if someone might want to bring by some umbrellas. Looks like light rain is on the way
It appears they're continuing to allow supporters in. Still plenty of room on the sides and in the back, but it's definitely starting to fill up. A long line is still visible along George Street.
A campaign worker is handing out Country First signs to anyone who wants one. Other signs in the crowd: "Real women love Sarah," "Wailin' for Pailin," "Keep VA RED," "Palin Phreak."
15 minutes before they've said they're closing the gates, there's plenty of room left in the park. The front half is filled - packed - but there's still lots of room left on the sides and in the back. Supporters continue to stream in.
A military helicopter just buzzed overhead and circled the park twice. The crowd cheered and held up Country First signs. Not clear who was onboard, but it gave everyone something to get excited about for a couple of minutes. The two apparent sharpshooters on the Verizon building overlooking the park don't look concerned.
Pretty quiet ... the park is about half-full, but long lines of people continue to stream slowly through the security gates. The campaign has said it won't let anyone in after 11:45 a.m. At this rate, there would be a lot of green space in Hurkamp and plenty of disappointed supporters. We'll see.
More signs: "Prayin 4 Palin," "Look @ The Record," "Farmers 4 Palin"
A random supporter just screamed, "Maverick!"
Also, 1st District Rep. Rob Wittman (who's up for re-election next month) just walked into the park.
A very quite "USA" chant just died down.
Reporter Kelly Hannon shares notes from the line:
“We just have to elect a Republican president at this point … we don’t have a choice,” said Alan Rivers, 49, of Stafford County. “I can’t see our country going anywhere for the good unless we do. At a time like this, there’s no way we can increase taxes on our nation.” Palin’s Fredericksburg stop was Rivers’ third McCain campaign rally. He traveled to hear McCain and Palin speak in Fairfax, and McCain in Woodbridge.
Tax policy is an important issue to Rivers. “If taxes go up, our economy is going to go straight downhill, quicker than we’ve seen going on in the last month,” Rivers said.
Brigitte Morrow, 50, of Fauquier said the McCain-Palin ticket inspired her to vote for the first time in her life. “I love Sarah Palin. She’s down home, just folk like us. And you don’t find that too often in politics.” Morrow, clutching flags to wave at the rally, is concerned about Obama’s proposed policies. “I think we’re going toward a socialistic environment, and I don’t want that. I don’t want somebody to tell me who I need to go to for health care. I want my own healthcare.” Also, Morrow lives on 220 acres owned by her father. She fears she won’t be able to pay property taxes to keep the land in an Obama administration. “It’s our family farm, and I don’t want to leave it,” Morrow said.
Susan Aiken, 51, of Mechanicsville voted for the McCain-Palin ticket on her absentee ballot last week. But she woke before dawn today to drive to Fredericksburg and see Palin in person. “I really wanted to hear her speak... she’s just so inspiring,” Aiken said. Aiken has voted for Democrats in the past, but she was pulled to the Republican ticket this time. “This is the first time I’ve been really active in the campaign. I have a sign in my yard, bumper stickers. I think it’s a very important election,” Aiken said. She’s pleased Virginia is a swing state this year. “For so long they skipped Virginia, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here, because I want Virginia to go red this time, definitely.”
Aine Morris, 22, of Richmond, advises the College Republicans at Virginia Commonwealth University. Today is her second time at a Palin rally. Morris saw the governor two weeks ago at Richmond International Raceway, and says she is a “brilliant speaker.” Morris was wearing a “coldest state, hottest VP” button. “I think she’s awesome,” Morris said of Palin. “She’s an inspiration to not only women, but conservative women everywhere…It’s great to see this little piece of history being made.” Morris said VCU students have embraced the McCain-Palin ticket.
“On campus, it’s usually students for Obama but honestly the minute you go out there with a McCain table, people rush up and they’re like, ‘Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for ages, thank god you’re here.’ It’s nice there’s that balance. We’re not there to kick the Obama kids off campus. We’re there to sit right beside them and show there’s a balance, it’s not a partisan campus.”
Sign sighting: "Sarahcuda Rocks," hoisted by a man in a red and black checkered flannel shirt up front. (Anyone else got the Heart song "Barracuda" on their brain?) The non-VIPs are starting to filter in and some jazz music has started wafting from the loudspeakers. Also, it's COLD and windy.
Biltz reports that Gov. Palin's bus will arrive in front of Ristorante Renato on William Street downtown. It's just across Prince Edward Street from the park and she's expected to walk to the rally from the restaurant.
Logistics update: Cops reporter Ellen Biltz reports that on hand for today's rally are six ambulances, three fire trucks and a HAZMAT crew. The rescue squad building behind the park is serving as a command post for local and state police as ell as fire and rescue. The Secret Service, which is running security at the gates and - we're sure - from other "secret places" is in charge of protecting Palin. Also, we just got a tip (from Biltz) on where Gov. Palin may be having lunch today. Stay tuned.
Check out some photos of Palin supporters from The Free Lance-Star photo team.
A second line winds from the back entrance to the park at George Street for several blocks. The gates don't officially open for another 10 minutes, but a select 200 or so supporters have been admitted and invited to the front of the stage.
(We're blogging from inside the gated area so this may be our last "line update" for quite a while.)
A few hundred people, many wearing red clothing, are now waiting in a line that now crosses William Street and wraps east down Amelia Street.
UPDATE: 7:25 a.m.
At 7 a.m., about 20 supporters were already in line to see Sarah Palin.
First in line were Charlene Campbell and Gavonnie Williams of Yorktown.
They drove two hours in the middle of the night and arrived at 3:30 a.m.
"She's just the first woman candidate who represents my values," said Campbell, 41, a police officer.
"I'm very pro-life. I also have five children, and I'm a working mom. And I feel as though she represents me."
Williams, a 52-year-old homemaker, said she also identifies with Palin.
"I feel inspired by her simple journey into politics with no agenda but to make things better," she said.