Sea of Red welcomes Palin in Scranton

VOTE McCain-Palin
http://www.JohnMccain.com/

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Politics/Sea_of_red_to_greet_Palin_in_Scranton_10-13-2008.html

October 14

Sea of red to greet Palin in Scranton

First NEPA visit for GOP contender


BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com


When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin walks into the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton today, she will see red.

Palin

Sean Lehman of Plains Twp. sets up lighting for today’s rally featuring Sarah Palin at Riverfront Sports Complex.




And that’s a good thing if you are a supporter of the Republican ticket of Ariz. Sen. John McCain and Palin.

An e-mail sent from the McCain-Palin campaign urges those attending to wear red to the rally.

“We want to flood the venue with red to show our strength and determination to turn Pennsylvania red on Nov. 4,” the e-mail stated.

Red is the color used by political pundits to depict which states are Republican and blue is used to designate Democratic areas.

Carol Oleski, director of the Scranton office of Democrats for McCain, said the level of enthusiasm building up to Palin’s arrival is “unbelievable.”

“Absolutely, we will all be wearing red,” Oleski said. “We were told 10,000 tickets would be available for the event and they are going out fast. I expect a majority, if not all of them, will go.”

The Riverfront Sports Complex, depending on how it is configured, could hold up to 12,000 people.

Oleski said people from all areas have been calling for tickets. She said requests have come in from New York, New Jersey, Pottstown, Allentown and even California.

“Some people are actually flying in for this event,” Oleski said. “Most of the ticket requests have come from surrounding counties, but I expect a lot of people from out of the area to be here.”

Oleski said Palin’s visit has excited the volunteers in the office who she said have long awaited the Alaska governor’s arrival.

“We are all glad that Gov. Palin is giving this area the opportunity to see and hear her,” Oleski said. “We feel this area is extremely critical to the outcome of this election.”

Doors to the Palin rally open at 11 a.m. It is unknown exactly what time Palin will address the crowd.

Staunch Hillary Clinton supporter Lynette Long, a Bethesda, Md. psychologist, addressed a group at the Scranton office of Democrats for McCain on Monday.

Long, a vocal opponent of the Democratic caucus process that resulted in the nomination of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, has become an avid supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket.

Long believes the efforts produced invalid results in the caucus states and the nomination of Obama as the Democratic candidate for the presidency is “against the will of the people.”

Long has now endorsed the McCain-Palin ticket.



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http://www.timesleader.com/news/Politics/Sea_of_red_to_greet_Palin_in_Scranton_10-13-2008.html


October 7

Dem group backing McCain

Prominent Hillary Clinton supporter helps open Democrats for McCain headquarters in Scranton.

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

SCRANTON – A major supporter of Hillary Clinton and member of the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee, on Monday said the Democratic Party has nominated “the worst candidate” while Republicans have nominated the best.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild helped open the Democrats for McCain headquarters on Main Avenue in West Scranton. About 30 supporters turned out to welcome de Rothschild and speak out for the Republican ticket.

“What it came down to was that I decided I love my country more than my party,” de Rothschild said, explaining her support of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin. “I’m really worried. I do not want (Obama) in the White House.”

De Rothschild, 54, said she sees Northeast Pennsylvania – specifically Luzerne and Lackawanna counties – as the key to winning Pennsylvania’s 21 electoral votes. And, she said, whoever wins Pennsylvania will likely become the next president.

“Barack Obama has never had the mandate of Democrats,” she said. “And Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi ignored the 18 million people that voted for Hillary Clinton. They can’t be surprised at the 5 million to 7 million Clinton supporters who are now supporting McCain.”

One organization – PUMA, which stands for Party Unity My Ass – has more than 5 million members across the country, she said. Jamie Brazil, a longtime friend of the Clintons and the Rodham family, is serving as national director of Citizens for McCain. Brazil accompanied de Rothschild on her Scranton visit.

Brazil and his wife, Dee, will be godparents to Simon Rodham, son of Tony and Megan Rodham at his baptism Oct. 12 in Scranton. Tony Rodham is Hillary Clinton’s brother. The Clintons will attend the post-baptism brunch at the Brazil home in Scranton.

No announcement has been made regarding a possible pro-Obama event while the Clintons are in Scranton.

“I’m here in Scranton because this is one of two counties in Pennsylvania -- Luzerne being the other – that will determine who will be our next president,” de Rothschild said. “I want that to be John McCain.”

Carol Oleski is director of the Democrats for McCain office. Judy O’Connor is assisting Oleski and has taken a strong stand for McCain.

“Hillary supporters are way past the anger stage,” O’Connor said. “We are supporting McCain because we feel after Hillary, he is the most qualified candidate for president.”

O’Connor said most Clinton supporters who have come over to the McCain side feel the Democratic Party threw the New York senator “under the bus.” She said the Democratic “good ol’ boys club” didn’t want a woman to be president.

“We find McCain to be honest and genuine,” O’Connor said. “We don’t trust Sen. Obama; we don’t feel he is qualified for the job. He has walked down many hallways, but he hasn’t left many footprints.”

A self-made multimillionaire who is married to British royalty, de Rothschild has called Obama an elitist. She splits her time living in London and New York and was one of Clinton’s top fundraisers, bringing in more than $100,000 for the campaign.

De Rothschild built a multimillion-dollar telecommunications company before marrying international banker Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

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Palin Wows Crowd in Scranton

Posted: Oct 14, 2008 04:12 PM

Last Updated: Oct 14, 2008 05:36 PM
Palin Wows Crowd in Scranton

By Jon Meyer and Sarah Buynovsky

http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=9177255

For the first time in the 2008 campaign the Republican pick for vice president was in our area.

With her family by her side, Sarah Palin touched down at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport early Tuesday afternoon.


Governor Sarah Palin brought
the crowd at the Riverfront
Sports Complex to its feet as
she talked about John McCain's
plan for the future.

From there it was off to Scranton.

Some McCain Palin supports said they felt like they were at a rock concert. There was a rowdy crowd. There were special effects, special performances and there was a candidate that certainly got those gathered really excited.

Governor Sarah Palin took the stage and the crowd went wild, chanting her name loudly. Nearly everyone in the stands wore red, a symbol of this campaign's attempt to turn blue state Pennsylvania red for the Republicans.

Before Palin got going on her campaign speech she tried to rally some patriotism at the Riverfront Sports Complex, calling singer Lee Greenwood to the stage, with his familiar tune.

The governor had some business to take care of here in northeastern Pennsylvania, stirring support for a campaign that trails in the Pennsylvania polls.

Her speech included some attacks on Barack Obama. She talked a lot about the McCain Palin plan for America, especially the economy.

"We're going to work to get a fixed-rate mortgage that's not a hand out but a hand up to help them keep their homes," Palin told those gathered. "ALl that working people are asking for is government to be on their side so they can keep their jobs in their hometowns."

She tried to do what supporters said Sarah Palin does best, connecting with the average person. "They're trying to say they're running against the current administration. That's starting to grow doggone thin!" Palin said.

She really got the crowd going when she talked about stopping reliance on foreign oil.

"We'll be developing clean coal technology and we'll be asking the good people of Pennsylvania to help us with our goal," the governor said to cheers.

Palin also connected with Scranton area supporters when she said she'd be a champion for those with special needs and the unborn.

"Our children are not a problem. They're a priority. We need to show them the heart of America," Palin said.

"She's one of us, 100 percent," said one supporter.

"She's got her career, she's got her kids, she seems to balance the family thing really well. It's great to see," said another supporter.

Palin signed autographs for more than a half hour and many at the sports complex said she did what she needed to do, getting them excited about McCain Palin '08.

Even before her speech in Scranton, Sarah Palin's visit to our area had quite an impact on some locals who met her at the airport.


Palin waved to supporters when
she arrived at the Wilkes-Barre
Scranton Airport Tuesday.

Palin's plane landed just before 1 p.m. Soon after, the governor emerged, waving to a supporters and stopping to shake hands with a few campaign volunteers.

"It was wonderful. Words can't describe. I'm still shaking. It was oh, wonderful!" said Katherine Dibello.

"She thanked me for my work and said it was a pleasure to meet me. She was very gracious and introduced me to her husband and her baby," said Sandra Stafursky of Old Forge.

Palin traveled with her infant son, Trig, and her husband, Todd, a man who refers to himself as the "First Dude of Alaska."

"Talked to Todd Palin, told him I was also a stay-at-home dad as well, so we connected there a little," said Mike Shay of Nanticoke.

Supporters call Palin's visit inspiring.

"She just said, 'Hi, how are you?' and she was just happy we were there to meet with her today and it was just an incredible feeling to meet with her, especially being a woman.

As for the polls that show Democratic candidate Barack Obama leading in Pennsylvania.

"I don't believe in the polls. The polls will drive you nuts. Day to day the polls that matter, the only poll that matters is November 4," Shay added.

Governor Palin's plane left the airport just before 4 p.m.