Crowd welcomes Palin to ECU

More than 8,000 North Carolinians welcomed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to Minges Coliseum Oct. 7. Photos by Cliff Hollis

Gov. Sarah Palin’s visit to East Carolina University’s Minges Coliseum Oct. 7 was standing room only as more than 8,000 supporters welcomed the Republican vice presidential nominee.

“I understand your football season got off to quite a start this year,” Palin said, referring to the ECU football team’s early season victories. “It sounds like Greenville knows a little something about how to turn an underdog into a victor. John McCain and I are ready to do the same, and shake things up in Washington.”

Palin, who is campaigning on behalf of Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), said North Carolina voters will play a key role in deciding the Nov. 4 election.

“It’s gonna come down to the wire, and here in N.C. you can help put us in D.C.,” she said. “John McCain is the only man with a plan who can help our working families, cut our taxes, and get us back on the right track.”

Amid a fanfare of 2500 purple and gold pompoms and homemade signs, the crowds cheered the lineup of other Republican candidates running for office in North Carolina.

“The first three words in our constitution are ‘We the People.’ And Sarah Palin is one of those people; she’s one of us!” said State Sen. Jean Preston (R-13th District). “We must make sure that one of the most important elections in our term ends with John McCain in the White House, and Sarah Palin shattering that glass ceiling.”

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) praised the candidacy of her longtime colleague, John McCain.

“I think he deserves so much credit for continuing to push hard for this,” Dole said. “I think his choice of Sarah Palin was brilliant. And you know she’s really willing to stand up for what she believes in, and take on the establishment if that’s what it needs.”

Other speakers at the rally included: Pat McCrory, Republican candidate for governor; Louis Pate, Jr., (R-5th district); and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

Local radio host Henry Hinton performed emcee duties for the event.