Palin speech expected to draw crowd of 24,000

Can Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin draw 24,000 Hoosiers to her rally Friday?
“You betcha.”

Palin will make her first visit to Indiana as Republican nominee John McCain’s running mate Friday. Almost every ticket has been distributed for the 4:30 p.m. event at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Ind., which holds 24,000 people.

“For all intents and purposes, it’s a sell-out,” said Marc Lotter, Indiana communications director for the McCain campaign. “There’s excitement all across the country for Governor Palin.”

Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s visit to Indianapolis on Oct. 8 drew 21,000 people to the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Lotter said the enthusiasm for Palin in Indiana exists because she can relate to voters as a working mother who has lived a normal life.

“She connects with people, she’s plain talk,” Lotter said, adding that voters feel she especially relates to them on their challenges and values.

Even though nearly all tickets have been distributed, Lotter said a few VIP tickets might still be available. VIP tickets, which traditionally are held for elected officials and party leaders, are being given to those willing to make 100 phone calls for the campaign on the spot, Lotter said.

“This gets you a seat in the pavilion closer to the stage,” he said. “It’s a great way to encourage people to help out and also inform other Hoosiers.”

Palin will talk about her experience as a governor and how she wants to “change the way Washington and Wall Street do their business,” Lotter said.

Chelsea Kane, chairwoman of the IU College Republicans, said more than 100 members will be going, and their group might have extra tickets for those not already planning to go with them.

“Because of the high-profile nature of this, we want to make sure everyone that is a real supporter of the McCain ticket gets to go first,” she said. “If we can’t get rid of them, we possibly could have extra tickets.”

Justin P. Hill, chairman of Students for John McCain at IU, agreed that Palin draws a lot of excitement for Hoosiers because she is so relatable.

“She’s so new to the national stage,” he said. “I think that she really connects with Indiana voters.”

McCain has yet to visit the state since July 1, but Hill said he was certain McCain would visit Indiana soon.

“I know that John McCain is coming to Indiana,” Hill said. “I do not know when.”
But Lotter said it was not safe to say whether or not McCain would make a visit before Election Day.

“We don’t discuss potential visits before they’re announced by the campaign,” he said.
With less than 20 days to go, Palin and McCain have been attending rallies throughout the country separate from one another to convince voters. 

“You have two candidates right now who are reaching out, meeting with as many voters as they can in the last few weeks,” Lotter said. “There are stark differences between these two candidates. Getting them out together and separately gives them a chance to meet as many people as they possibly can.”

Doors to the event will open at 1 p.m., and parking lots will open at 11 a.m.