Crowds line up for tickets for Palin’s East Ohio rally
By ERIC AYRES, Times Leader News EditorArticle Photos
ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Hordes of local people lined up outside the Belmont County Republican Party headquarters in St. Clairsville Thursday night to secure tickets to see Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin when she makes a local stop on the campaign trail Sunday.
Palin's visit was confirmed and announced just about 24 hours before the free tickets were put up for grabs. She is scheduled to appear at Brush Run Park - the original site of Jamboree In The Hills - off Airport Road west of St. Clairsville on Sunday at about 5 p.m.
Tickets are free and will be available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. both today and Saturday at the GOP satellite locations at 107 Plaza Drive in St. Clairsville (between Riesbeck's and Domino's Pizza in Plaza West) and also at 408 S. Jefferson St. in Belmont.
Those who wish to obtain tickets need only to provide their name and address.
Sunday's rally will be Palin's first stop in the area since she joined her running mate, Arizona senator and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, in Washington, Pa. on Aug. 30, just one day after she was named as his running mate.
Palin will address the local crowd during an outdoor rally at the amphitheater-style site, and organizers said there will not likely be a limit to the amount of tickets given to the public for this event.
That fact didn't stop a throng of people from lining up outside the GOP office in St. Clairsville to be among the first to snap up free tickets.
"It's exciting for people here and for the party," said Kellie Conway, member of the Republican executive committee in Belmont County and head of the GOP satellite office in St. Clairsville. "She's a very dynamic person, and a lot of people are interested in seeing her - both Republican and Democrat - because she's a Washington outsider."
Conway said Palin's local visit has been in the works for a number of weeks. The St. Clairsville stop was confirmed Wednesday, and the site was selected by the McCain-Palin advance team after the Secret Service contacted the Belmont County Sheriff's Office, which will be assisting with security during the event.
People who were among the first to line up for tickets were people of all ages and of all political backgrounds, from Republicans to Democrats and Independents. The long line stretched around the building when doors for the tickets opened at 5 p.m. Thursday, but the line moved quickly. By the evening, people were able to walk right through the doors and get their tickets with no waiting at all.
"No one will be left out," said Conway, who said he has seen many registered Democrats who came out early for tickets and grabbed political signs at the Republican office. "They've all just been wonderful people, and there's a lot of enthusiasm. As long as you are an American first, you're welcome."
Gates to Sunday's rally at Brush Run Park will open at 3 p.m. Everyone attending must have a ticket and must proceed through security checkpoints. The event will be wheelchair accessible, but no other chairs will be allowed inside the venue.
There will be entertainment at around 4:30 p.m., and Palin is scheduled to speak from about 5-6 p.m. Organizers noted that the weather this weekend is expected to be clear and unseasonably warm, which will be perfect for the outdoor rally.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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10-10-08 4:08 PM
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It must be fall, the lemmings are beginning to line up!!!!
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Watcher
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10-10-08 3:33 PM
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She's the most popular vice presidential candidate in history. Why I'll be that even Nancy SI would like her if they ever met.
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