Palin draws thousands at Shippensburg University rally

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Sarah Palin draws thousands to rally at Shippensburg University

By Marcus Rauhut Staff writer


Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin focused heavily on taxes and the economy during a campaign stop in Shippensburg Tuesday, promising to solve the economic crisis by "cleaning up corruption on Wall Street."

With seven days left until the election, Palin spoke to a packed Heiges Field House at Shippensburg University Tuesday evening.

"Our country is facing tough economic times. Now more than ever, we need a leader who is tough ... We need John McCain," Palin said. "We're going to clean up the corruption on Wall Street."

The Alaska governor criticized Democratic candidate Barack Obama's comment to "spread the wealth," which she said "puts America on a path to erode our strong work ethic." She also took aim at what she called Obama's "ideological commitment to higher taxes."

"It's too expensive to do business when the government is trying to take more away from them. We will do more to keep businesses in America," Palin said.

With only one week before the election and trailing in national polls, McCain and Palin are making their final push in battleground states such as Pennsylvania. McCain and Palin appeared at a rally in Hershey Tuesday morning and Palin spoke again at State College Tuesday evening. They are both scheduled to speak in Florida today.

State Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, energized the crowd with an opening speech in which he called McCain a "bold leader ready on day one."

"This is the most important electionof our life," Kauffman said.

Supporters waved homemade signs like "PA Loves McCain," Ready on Day One," and "Use Your Brain Vote McCain." Some braved the wind and rain in 40-degree weather to line up outside Heiges Field House as early as 10 a.m. Tuesday for the 4:15 p.m. rally.

Shippensburg University student Frank Hood was among the crowd. The freshman from Huntingdon said he agreed with McCain's plan for energy independence.

"I believe she expressed McCain's beliefs and opinions on everything," Hood said. "She made me like Obama less."

Palin continued attacking Obama's comments earlier in the campaign that voters cling to guns and religion out of bitterness.

"I know here in Shippensburg and back home in Wasilla, we still don't know what to make of that talk about how we're bitterly clinging to guns and religion," she said.

Kauffman echoed those remarks in his speech.

"We aren't racists. We maybe are rednecks," he said to cheers. "But we aren't bitter. We have central Pennsylvania values."

Palin touched on energy independence, saying the country needs to take an "all-the-above approach," combining alternative energy sources and domestic drilling. She also spoke of a need for government reform.

"John is his own man. He doesn't run with the Washington herd."

U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, a Republican from York County and an SU alumnus, praised McCain's leadership and military record in an opening speech, saying McCain was "tested under fire."

"We can and will win Pennsylvania," he said.

What the crowd liked/didn't like

Cheers:

- "(John McCain) won't wave the white flag of surrender to the terrorists."

- "We'll clean up the corruption on Wall Street."

- "We will balance the federal budget within our first term."

- "We're going to help our students afford college."

- "Your government should do more for you."

- "So Pennsylvania, will you hire us? Will you send us to Washington?"

Boos:

- "Spread the wealth."

- "(Obama says) you bitterly cling to your religion."

- "... Obama, Pelosi, Reed agenda."

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