NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA | UPDATE: Palin campaigns at RIR to packed crowd

UPDATE: Palin campaigns at RIR to packed crowd

STORY AND PHOTOS BY Rob Richardson - bio | email

RICHMOND, VA (NBC12) - Governor Sarah Palin wrapped up her swing through the Commonwealth with a fundraiser in northern Virginia. She was in Richmond Monday, where she drew a huge crowd at Richmond International Raceway. 
 
The McCain campaign says an estimated 25,000 people showed up for the afternoon's event. Palin talked about the economy, and the war in Iraq, saying McCain is the right man to send to Washington to fight for Americans.

Fresh from a rally in Virginia Beach, Gov. Palin and her husband, Todd, walked on stage at RIR to a thunderous applause. Palin was comfortable taking in the adoration. Palin arrived about 2:15 p.m. Monday, she acknowledged the crowd, the race track, and then, in a surprise for the crowd, introduced country superstar Hank Williams, Junior, who sang the national anthem. 

Palin took over a fired-up group, telling her supporters these are tough times and we need a "tough man as president" and a leader with experience. 

With three weeks to go before the election, Palin used a racing metaphor to describe the election.

"John McCain and I are nearing the finish line, here too of another close race and it's looking a lot like the 'Rock and Roll 400' ... race close, real sprint to the finish line, and long way from being decided and that's why John and I are taking cause to every voter, of every background, all across this great nation," says Palin.

She talked about the economy, saying McCain was the right man to fix the crisis and a friend to small business. She said her running mate would put the country first. Then, she talked about McCain's military service and the war in Iraq before segueing into talk about her own family.

"As the mother of one of the troops serving in Iraq, he's exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief," says Palin.

Cindy Diehl of Glen Allen sees both McCain and Palin as reformers -- and mavericks -- poised to lead the country. Palin, she says, makes the Republican ticket stronger.

Was Diehl a McCain supporter before Sarah Palin came on the ticket? "I was, but not an enthusiastic one," says Diehl. "Sarah Palin made a difference for me. She represents my values."

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