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Palin’s down-home charm thrills local folks

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Germain Arena

11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, FL

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples, Fl

Craig Brush hadn’t seen this kind of crowd since Elton John came to town.

The general manager of Germain Arena in Estero is used to selling out minor league hockey games and concerts, not speeches.

But Monday saw one of the biggest rock stars in American politics come to Southwest Florida for the first time.

“It’s obviously something different than we’ve ever done before,” Brush said.

Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin packed Germain Arena with a frenzied crowd Brush estimated to be close to 8,000 people for a 20-minute speech emphasizing her folksy charm. Her brand of politics, blending policy with personality, has been the base of her appeal all over the country and not surprisingly the Republican stronghold of Southwest Florida proved no different.

“Her style of campaigning, either for mayor, for governor and now for vice president evokes a real emotional response,” said Peter Bergerson, a Florida Gulf Coast University political science professor and occasional columnist for the Daily News. “People are looking for that when they’re voting. Personality always trumps policy.”

The thousands standing in a line that snaked all around Germain’s parking lot Monday morning mentioned Palin’s positions on issues like abortion, but her personality drew the best revues.

“She’s just plain old common people,” said Ken Baker, 86, from Port Charlotte.

“She’s a real person,” said Eva Tomlinson, 76, from Fort Myers. “She’s captured the people in a way no one else has. Except Ronald Reagan.”

When Peggy Merritt, 75, from Estero was looking for a Palin button, she chuckled at a plain one reading “Drill, Baby, Drill,” a reference to Palin’s support of offshore oil drilling. The button vendor directed Merritt to a different “Drill, Baby, Drill” button with Palin holding a shotgun and “looking like Jed Clampett.”

“She’s lively and country and I just like her,” Merritt said.

If Southwest Florida likes Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin also needs to show she likes Southwest Florida back. No matter how much money she raised at two private fundraisers in Naples on Monday — and campaign officials wouldn’t say — Palin’s visit must help boost Election Day turnout from Collier and Lee county’s 513,000 registered voters where Republicans outnumber Democrats by nearly two-to-one, Bergerson said. That’s a significant base of potential support in this key swing state.

“This will be a topic of conversation and discussion for three or four days here,” Bergerson said of Palin’s visit. “(Voters) will remember that a month from now.”

Comments

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The real question to ask Gov Palin is: why won't she do a press conference with reporters? Has a VP candidate ever hidden from journalists for so long?

#1 Posted by dooley on October 6, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We ALL know the answer to that question dooley :D

#2 Posted by Elle on October 6, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)

she's such a joke. so embarrassing for the GOP.

#3 Posted by voteforobama on October 6, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was at the Palinpalooza in Estero today. You could tell the GOP was running it as they had a hard time getting the crowd into the building in under 4 hours. There were empty seats by the way (TV Channel 5 said every seat was taken) and the floor space was only half full. Usual GOP boilerplate speeches from Palin, Crist, Martinez - lower taxes, less government and less spending. That's it folks - no words of wisdom on how they are going to clean up Bush's disastrous reign but they are going to put government back on the side of the people. Yeah, right!. Kudos to 8 or so protestors who got themselves thrown out to a wildly cheering crowd baying for their blood. Some Democracy they have created, huh?

#4 Posted by progressivedem on October 6, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

She couldn't answer a simple question with Katie Couric, such as what specific newspaper she reads.
But we all know she reads Mad Magazines and Highlights.
When she wants really tough news stories, she goes to the National Enquirer.

#5 Posted by beetlejuice on October 6, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

progressive...was anyone dressed up in a moose suit...naaaahhh
She probably nixed that protester right off the bat.

#6 Posted by beetlejuice on October 6, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Future of USA may be decided by creditors of federal debt, not President and Congress.

Will your vote be part of the solution, or the problem?

Voters for either "old party" president or congress nominee, choose the status quo of
government over-regulation and over-spending,
which leave unintended consequences
to young people and future generations.

Bob BARR is the only candidate
offering the combination of
a crackdown on excessive government spending
along with concern for civil liberties.

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/pres...

http://BobBarr2008.com

http://bobbarr.meetup.com/65

#7 Posted by jacktanner on October 6, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's not bad enough that she is an idiot, but then you have to add Sheriff Mike Scott once again putting Lee County in the national spotlight for being run by an Outspoken Redneck.

#8 Posted by John33967 on October 6, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Collier County Democrats ought to move to the East Coast where they can join more of their kind in public housing.

#9 Posted by Naplestango on October 6, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

not really wanting to be in the Dem pile-on but didn't they give the tickets away?

#10 Posted by mimibuck on October 6, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sarah Sarah Sarah

John John John

IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID !!!

#11 Posted by Starrrfish on October 6, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am appalled as a woman that so many have fallen into this stupidity that McCain thought was so creative. McCain: "Oh, if I can find a woman to run with me, all the women who wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton will vote for this woman. What a great political move, I am so smart. Let's see, there is a governor from Alaska that's a woman and she's a real "looker." I think I will put her on my ticket. What credentials does she have to be vice president? Well, she's a woman and all the women who wanted to vote for Hillary will vote for her. Let's go for it."

Sarah Palin is so not qualified for this position. I am offended as first an American, and second as a lifelong Republican. How stupid should the American people be to see through this, especially women! If it came down to that the vice presidential candidate somehow absolutely had to be a woman, there were so many Republican women who were so much more qualified than Sarah Palin.

I am ashamed of the Republican party for what has happened here. If anyone ever thinks Palin is the answer to Hillary, you are sadly mistaken. Oh well, many conservative Republicans will be happy to hear that at least Palin was successful in banning many books in Alaska's libraries that she thought were unsuitable for viewers. I have heard that the libriarians tried to stop it, but she overroad them.

#12 Posted by momforjustice on October 6, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jack...so this Barr dude...likely to win? LOL He may be running but so are many others like Ralph Nader again, too...

Yep, I have voted for a candidate before as sort of a protest vote because I didn't like either candidate. I am not crazy about McCain, but actually like Palin for her plain talk. Now if Joe Lieberman was running as the Presidential candidate (any party)...he would be my choice. The fact that Senator Lieberman endorsed McCain, swayed my vote.

Still, I am not thrilled with the tickets out there, but will not vote for someone like Barr as a protest.

#13 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 6, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

weel i think seara iz just peachy, but i cud't listen to hir voiz much langer or I weeel keeel myzelf

#14 Posted by artdude on October 6, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

artdude: we will miss you if you don't get ear plugs, turn off the set, or turn down the volume. November is close, but not close enough. BTW, I am totally sick of all political rhetoric and grandstanding politicians be they Republicans, Democrats or others.

So what kind of art do you dude (pun)?

Where is a good bra theft story when you need one?

#15 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 6, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Folksy charm"? More like her script and new role. I think the campaign gives her "folksy" things to say to "connect with "Joe sixpack". I can picture them in a room telling her "normal people say things like "doggonit" and "darn right" and "say it ain't so".
Their campaign is so clueless it's laughable. Her "folksy charm" is a sham don't let it fool you.

#16 Posted by Trojanz33 on October 7, 2008 at 2:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder if there were any more "nook-ya-lar"s spoken by the maverickette to the lemmings.

#17 Posted by babbas on October 7, 2008 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

who care's . really . its all going to melt down

#18 Posted by firetjm on October 7, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?...

Would you be able to keep your job if you were bad at it?

#19 Posted by babbas on October 7, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I keep expecting Sarah to break out into a chorus of "A New Argentina". Her "Maverick Express", er, I mean "Straight Talk" tour looks like a reprise of "Evita". Come to think of it, the techniques are pretty similar not to mention the cast of characters. Wasn't Eva Peron a former broadcaster and beauty queen? And Peron an older, military man mistrusted by his party and the people? Are they trying to brand Obama as "Che"? Do you think the McCain Campaign owes its strategy (or is it tactics?)to Andrew Lloyd Weber? If the GOP wins, will Sarah come up with her own musical version of her ascendancy to power - maybe "Don't cry for me, dear Wassila"? It could be scored for flute.

#20 Posted by common_tator on October 7, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

she and McBush are perfect for each other...she is a folksy down home phony and he is a phony to all folks

#21 Posted by coolkraft on October 7, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

folks who would u rather have lead our country??

a muslim in disguise with a man who said GD AMERICA or a man who believes in our country AND OUR TROOPS , and has military experience with a runningmate who is down to earth? its just common sense.

obama is affiliated with terroists and U want HIM as commander in chief of OUR country? wake up!!!!!

MCCAIN/PALIN 2008

#22 Posted by patsprincess on October 7, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

#22.. don't be an idiot.

#23 Posted by GeorgeGlass on October 7, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

artdude says it so perfectly!

"Gosh darn" right U R artdude!

To think she would sit and talk with leaders of foreign countries. "Howdy doody, I M ferm Alaska, so where U be from?" Is it cold dare?" Do U have huntin over dare?" "Whattabout teenage pregnancies?" Most impertantly, U have 2 tell me bout hockey."

Ain't this fun?

#24 Posted by beetlejuice on October 7, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go home Caribou Barbie!!

#25 Posted by YankeeFan on October 7, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

• If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

• If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

• Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, and you're well grounded.

• If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, become the first black
President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law
professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with
over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and
Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate
representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and
serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

• But if your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

• If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising two
daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

• But if you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your
disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

• If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the
proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

• But if, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other
option in sex education in your state's school system, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

• If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't
represent America's.

• But if your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

Sarah Palin: Palling Around with Anti-American Secessionists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniG9l...

Olbermann CRUSHES Sarah Palin (NBC NEWS)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtdJG7...

Sarah Palin on "BRIDGE TO NOWHERE"... first she supports it (video shows her saying so) and then she opposes it, and now says she stopped it!!! AND OTHER LIES BY HER PROVED TO BE SO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BAwgT...

#26 Posted by flsandy on October 7, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes please go home Caribou Barbie. To your new home in Washington D.C. I've visited the VP house. It's quite nice I promise.

#27 Posted by vyger on October 7, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

she doesn't have the brains to be the leader of the united states. Are you kidding me???

It's not a PTA meeting, or a swamp buggy festival. It's about being the leader of our country in the event of Mc Cain's demise. Imagine her negotiating with Putin or the Pesident of China.

#28 Posted by milorx on October 8, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)



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