“Does she rock or what?”
Republican candidate for Missouri Governor Kenny Hulshof may have summed up Monday morning the prevailing feelings for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s quest for the vice-presidency on John McCain’s ticket.
Before a bright-eyed, enthusiastic and cheering crowd of close to 3,000 people at the Pavilion at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, Hulshof said that this year’s political refrain of “change” sits squarely on the laps of the Republican presidential/vice-presidential nominees.
“Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin…that’s the change we need,” said Hulshof, one of many politicians who took the time to address the crowd before McCain and Palin’s speech.
The pair also told supporters in the audience that they - McCain and Palin - represent the “real change” Americans want to see in office the next four years, and that voters in Missouri are indeed a key swing state for the Republican ticket.
“This state (Missouri), we must win and we will win,” McCain said.
Many local Republicans were among those who packed the Pavilion. The crowd was so large that many could not get in to to see the speech, but waited outside the doors, where McCain later greeted them.
Among the local officials impressed by today’s speeches was Blue Springs Rep. Gary Dusenberg, who personally spoke with both McCain and Palin.
“I was very impressed with both of them,” Dusenberg said. “I have met John McCain before, but this was my first chance to meet Gov. Palin. She was an inspiration, and she is clearly very capable. And I’ve always had a lot of respect for John McCain.”
The crowd gave a rousing ovation to both McCain and Palin. Dusenberg said the event and McCain’s choice of Palin have been very exciting to their party.
“She’s invigorating the Republican Party,” he said. “This was a wonderful event, and we are expecting great things from both of them.”
Stumping on an energy independence platform, tax reform and the elimination of federal earmark spending, McCain said he and Palin are “mavericks” promising a shake up in the Oval office.
“Change is coming, change is coming, change is coming,” McCain emphatically said amid screaming applause. “I will veto every earmarked spending bill that comes across my desk. We understand who we work for. We are going to work for you in Washington, D.C.”
Kit Bond, four-term Republican Senator from Missouri, also spoke highly of the ticket, offering an assessment of the nominees that Missourians can relate to.
“Change is not direction,” Bond said, “hope is not a strategy. This is the Show-Me state and we have heard enough. We want someone that will deliver for us and that is the McCain/Palin ticket.”
