McCain, Palin in Missouri for 2nd time in 8 days

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain is back in Missouri for his second campaign event in eight days.

Thousands of people lined up outside -- despite the threat of rain -- for the chance to see McCain and running mate Sarah Palin at a Lee's Summit retirement community Monday.

Event organizers expected to fit about 3,000 people into the Pavilion at John Knox Village. An overflow crowd of a few thousand others stood outside -- and a few even climbed up trees -- where they caught a glimpse of McCain on the way into the building and listened over speakers to the speeches inside.

McCain and Palin are campaigning through swing states following the conclusion of last week's Republican National Convention. A week ago, they were at a minor league ballpark in suburban St. Louis as one of their final stops before the convention.

McCain will need a strong showing in rural areas and in the suburbs of Kansas City and St. Louis to help counteract the urban-voting strength of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The retirement community where McCain campaigned Monday has about 2,000 residents living in everything from single-family houses to a nursing home. A few hundred of the residents were present, but the most of the audience consisted of the general public.