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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, addressed thousands of supporters at a rally at the Chaiftez Arena at a rally on the night of Thursday, Oct. 2. Many Saint Louis University students were in attendance.
Palin arrived shortly after the conclusion of her debate at Washington University with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden.
“St. Louis has always been known as the ‘gateway to the West,’ and I have a feeling that it is going to be the gateway to victory in this election,” Palin said to the crowd near the beginning of her speech.
The night’s program started at 7 p.m. with speeches by local GOP politicians and a performance by country singer Sarah Moritz. SLU alum and former Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes also briefly spoke about why he supports Sen. John McCain’s bid for the presidency. The debate was televised at 8 p.m. on the arena’s four corner screens.
The crowd was enthusiastic during the debate, cheering when Palin pressed her arguments and booing Biden and moderator Gwen Ifill. The enthusiasm continued as Palin following the debate as Palin entered the arnea in a tour bus emblazoned with the words “Straight Talk Express.” The crowd then greeted Palin and her family, shouting “Sarah! Sarah!”
“The atmosphere in the arena was very supportive and energetic,” senior Meghna Nagabhushan said.
The crowd made it difficult at first for Palin to get out a few words before being interrupted by loud cheers. She spoke for about fourteen minutes, discussing the debate and reiterating her ticket’s promise to bring about real change.
“You can count on John McCain and you can count on me,” Palin said to the crowd. “It is going to be real change, and it is going to be economic recovery and victory in our wars, and it is going to be energy independence, and it is going to be drill, baby, drill”
Biden didn’t attend a Democratic rally following the debate. Instead he flew back to Delaware to spend time with his son who was about to be deployed to Iraq.
The crowd wasn’t just filled with McCain supports. At one point in Palin’s, a handful of protesters emerged from behind Palin and began shouting “Obama! Obama!”
“I got a call from my son today he has been deployed over to Iraq, he is fighting for our freedom including their freedom to speak freely,” Palin said in the response to the protesters.
After Palin’s remarks she then went down to crowd level to sign autographs and to pose for pictures.
“I think the rally was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a really awesome way to get out there and show support for politics in general,” said Saint Louis University senior Catherine Brownell.
