Palin's supporters show enthusiasm

When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stepped onto the stage at a packed Show Me Center, the hot pink signs reading "Sarah rocks," "Palin Power" and "We Heart Sarah," the red and white pompons flashing from the bleachers, and the thousands of screaming fans made one thing clear.

Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, has indeed achieved rock star status.

One man stripped off his shirt, a Republican support message scrawled in red on his torso as he whipped two red leis over his head wildly.

A group of people held silver and pink spray painted letters spelling out "Missouri Hearts Sarah."

The din continued in the arena for at least 20 seconds before Palin was able to speak, and when she did, the mention of U.S. Sen Barack Obama's name, opponent of Palin's running mate, U.S. Sen. John McCain, evoked a chorus of boos through the crowded seating.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comLaura Eskew, 7, of Campbell, Mo., has fun cheering for Gov. Sarah Palin at Thursday's rally at the Show Me Center.

Before the rally began, Abby Chruschal, 8, of Jackson announced while waiting to enter the Show Me Center that she was excited to see Palin speak because "she's a girl."

Memories of Reagan visit

Monica Popp of Jackson decided to attend the rally because Palin's got some tough shoes to fill.

Popp was at Ronald Reagan's presidential visit in 1988 at the Show Me Center, and still recalls the emotion and excitement buzzing in the air. She hoped Palin could rise to the challenge.

"Nobody can compare to the atmosphere when Reagan was here," she said.

Kevin Levy, a Phoenix real estate broker who flew into St. Louis late Wednesday and then drove to Cape Girardeau to be at the rally, said it was well worth the trip.

"I didn't know if I was really excited or if I just haven't slept," he said.

He praised the friendliness and "down to earth" nature of the people in Cape Girardeau. "The hometown values really resonated."

Reached as he was waiting for flight back to Phoenix, Levy said he had one regret: "I do wish my son had been able to come." His son was prevented from attending because of a mild illness.

Jeff Moust of Marble Hill, Mo., had never been to a political rally before, but when he saw the way national media treated Palin, he decided to lend his support, he said.

"It makes me sick the way they're trying to destroy her," Moust said.

While Palin spoke, people flashed "country first" signs, the McCain campaign slogan, and a banner behind Palin proclaimed the same.

Palin promised that if elected, those banners would not be shuttered away in some closet, but rather the words would be printed on every federal employee's handbook.

At that, the crowd burst into another round of cheers, peppered by chants of "Sarah," a mantra Palin had to raise her voice to speak over to ask the frenzied spectators to "hire us, send us to Washington."

It was then that two men stood up and chanted "use your brain, vote McCain," before quickly falling back in their seats.

Amanda Harp of Paducah, Ky., said that when McCain named Palin as his running mate, he secured her vote.

The cheers raised to fever pitch when Palin began to criticize Obama for his approach to the war in Iraq, an issue she revisited twice during the speech.

"I thought she was awesome!" Harp said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635