Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov., Sarah Palin waves to the crowd during her first public Florida appearance in The Villages, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008. Standing on stage with her are Piper, 7, left, Willow, 13, center, and Todd Palin.
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Palin event: Long line awaits free tickets
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/05/palin-rally-creates-buzz-estero/Even Gov.
Sarah Palin's hometown in Alaska was represented in the long line snaking around the Lee County Republican Party headquarters on Thursday morning as McCain-Palin enthusiasts waited for free tickets to the governor's Monday appearance in Fort Myers
After dropping off her son at school, Punta Gorda resident Julie Montano, left, headed directly for the Fort Myers Republican headquarters where at 7:45am, was the first person to arrive looking for tickets to see Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin at Alico Arena next week. "We're definitely buying each other Christmas gifts this year," said Cathy Yelvingon, center, who arrived just after 8am as did Cyndy Anthony, center right, and Shelly McMahon, far right. Michel Fortier/Staff
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Palin rally creates buzz in Estero
By PETE BISHOP (Contact)
8:30 p.m., Dimanche, Octobre 5, 2008
ESTERO — Anita Green drives from Fort Lauderdale to Estero every week so her 13-year-old son can attend hockey practice at Germain Arena.
The hockey mom says the long drive is just one reason she connects with Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
“It’s not just the hockey,” Green said Sunday morning. “She is a mother with a big family and a full-time job. She shows a lot of commitment and stands up for what she believes. I think that’s refreshing.”
Green wasn’t the only hockey mom excited to talk about Palin while their sons practiced on Germain’s recreational rink and workers prepared the main arena for Monday’s political rally.
Palin’s visit was announced Wednesday and moved from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Alico Arena to Germain Arena on Friday because of high demand for tickets.
Alico’s capacity is 4,500 seats while Germain can accommodate 8,500 people. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Monday and Palin is scheduled to speak at 2:45 p.m.
“We hockey moms are crazy because we travel the longest distances to see our kids practice,” said Judy Asa of Melbourne. “We understand each other because we understand the time and effort and sacrifice we give our children.”
Asa’s two sons, ages 13 and 14, both play hockey but she said Palin’s candidacy excites her for other reasons as well.
“I would love to see her speak,” said Asa. “She’s a hockey mom so I know what she’s made of, but she also brings leadership, maturity and intelligence. I respect her.”
John Scott was training his 6-month-old dog, a rare French Beauceron, in Germain’s parking lot. Scott would also like to attend the rally but cannot because of work.
“I’m a big fan of hers,” he said. “I like the way she handles herself and I’m glad she’s coming down here. I also like John McCain’s economic policies and hope the Republicans carry Florida.”
Across Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, at Great Clips for Hair in the Shoppes at Grand Oak, beautician Priscilla Pilla said a lot of her clients have been talking about Palin talk since the rally was announced.
“I had a lady yesterday who was very excited and another one that was going, they both had tickets,” said Pilla. “People have been talking about it quite a lot.”
Pilla is undecided about her vote but would attend the rally if she didn’t have to work.
“I’d really like to see her,” she said. “She is one of those politicians who keeps your attention and I’m impressed with her. She held up quite well at the debate.”
At the Timberline store in nearby Gulf Coast Center mall, assistant manager Stephen Royal said customers haven’t mentioned Palin much, but the store’s young staff has been talking about Monday’s event.
Royal, 23, is a FGCU student who is leaning toward the McCain-Palin ticket. He plans on attending the rally.
“I heard Biden is coming to Naples, too,” he said. “It makes you feel a little more involved with them coming. I think people just want to see her in person because the general public usually just sees the 30-second blips on TV.”
At the McCain campaign’s Fort Myers headquarters, tickets were going fast early Sunday afternoon.
The office had already obtained more tickets from the Cape Coral campaign office to meet the strong demand.
“This is all we have left,” said volunteer Shirley Borregaard of Fort Myers, pointing to a stack of tickets about 3 inches high.
“There was a line of about 20 people when I got here an hour ago and we’ve had at least 100 more in here since then.”
At 12:30 p.m., a steady stream of people were still filing in and Borregaard thought the tickets would be gone within a few hours.
Fort Myers resident Lisa Turner took eight tickets. She planned on attending the rally with her mother, a neighbor and five of her nine children.
The kids attending the rally with her are between the ages of 2 and 12, she said.
“I want them to be able to respect our democracy and respect our ability to vote,” said Turner. “I also want them to respect a woman of integrity. I think it comes down to the value system that she stands for.”
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