Royal Purple

Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Joy Kowald Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin stand before the crowd Friday at a rally in Cedarburg, Wis.

Media Credit: Joy Kowald Whitney Clapper sings the National Anthem Friday at the rally

John McCain and Sarah Palin made their first official campaign stop in Cedarburg, Wis. Friday morning. The two made the trip from the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis where Palin was officially made the vice presidential candidate.

The town was packed in anticipation of seeing presidential candidate McCain, and his controversial running mate Palin. The crowd was much larger than expected and numbered in the thousands.

The rally opened with UW-Whitewater's own Whitney Clapper, a freshman, singing the national anthem. After a few remarks from Cedarburg Mayor Greg Myers, Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen the straight talk express rolled into Cedarburg.

The two strode to the stage, shaking hands along the way amidst a roaring crowd. Palin opened for Sen. McCain, quickly portraying the two as Washington D.C. outsiders and running mates poised for change.

"John McCain doesn't follow the Washington herd," Palin said. "That's one more reason to take the Maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House."

McCain harped on the same message of no more "business as usual," of cutting out pork barrel spending and corruption in Washington. He was quick to point out the cutting of unnecessary spending, and shakeups in administration that Palin has made as governor of Alaska.

"Isn't this the most marvelous running mate in the history of this nation?" McCain said of Palin. "I can't wait to introduce her to Washington."

McCain was eager to bring up the fact that both he and Palin have fought against special interests in Washington. He was pointed out that it doesn't matter what side of the political fence his opposition may be.

"I fought corruption," McCain said. "And it didn't matter if they were Republicans or Democrats."

McCain tried to popularize himself with the working class as he pointed out the rough shape of the economy and lack of jobs.

"These are tough times in Wisconsin and tough times in America," McCain said. "And we are here to stand on your side and not in your way."

The two were widely popular with the Cedarburg crowd, and Palin opened, and left, to chants of 'Sarah' and 'U.S.A.'.

McCain, a veteran of the Senate for 22 years, and proponent of the War in Iraq will have a tough time channeling his message of being a political outsider. Nevertheless the message of reform and no more "business as usual" is what Palin and McCain are bringing to the table at their campaign rallies.

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