McCain, Palin talk money in Ohio

Alyssa Sparacino

Straight Talk Express stops in Youngstown for GOP ticket stumping

Credit: DKS Editors

Applause drowned out low-flying planes as supporters crowded into the Winner Aviation hanger of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport Tuesday during a stop on John McCain’s “Road to Victory Rally.”

Gov. Sarah Palin’s influence was apparent with signs reading “Beside every great man, is a little lipstick,” and “Multi-tasking moms for McCain-Palin.”Howland Township residents Kellie Killian and Lisa Rhoads brought their young daughters, Claire and Maddie, both in fifth grade, with them to the rally. Killian called this an historic election, which gave her and Rhoads the opportunity to show their daughters a woman in leadership.

“I thought it was important for the girls to see what they can do, and Sarah’s a great example,” she said.

Claire didn’t seem to mind missing rehearsal for her school play, as she openly spoke about her political opinions.

“I like her because she’s a girl,” she said of Palin, innocently. “I like McCain because he’s a veteran, and my dad’s a veteran,” she added. Her father, a crew chief who works at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, will be returning from a duty in Qatar Thursday.

Killian said Palin is someone she can relate to.

“She is just like us,” she said. “We are PTO moms and she’s PTO.” Rhoads also added that she disagrees with critics who say a “hockey mom,” as Palin has been labeled, doesn’t have the experience to run the country.

“She’s not just a mom,” she said. “Sarah’s more than your everyday person.”

A mostly Caucasian, but gender-varied audience was greeted by another familiar face, McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain. She introduced Palin to the crowd by saying it’s a great idea to have a woman’s hand on the wheel that will drive America.

Palin began her speech with a request for the Ohio voters’ support.

“In the next 49 days, it’s going to be a hard-fought battle,” she said. “But John McCain and I are ready, and with your help we are going to win.”

Palin promised to make sure government was looking out for those with special needs, a struggle she said she grew to understand with the birth of her special needs son just four months ago.

The focus seemed to be on blaming Washington for the country’s economic strife, as McCain explained that he tried to warn the government of the problems he saw with mismanaged corporate money.

“In an endless quest for easy money, too many people on Wall Street have forgotten the basics of economics,” McCain said. “And once again, it’s the public who are left to bear the costs.”

Palin also mentioned her decision to make the state of Alaska’s checkbook available online.

“We will bring that kind of openness back to Washington,” she added of the McCain administration.

When both McCain and Palin spoke of their opponents, they began with a saying they called “straight talk,” furthermore taking stabs at the Democratic ticket and Sen. Barack Obama’s promises of change.

Palin said Obama’s plan to raise taxes while the country’s economy is suffering would cost the American people billions of dollars. She suggested instead that to grow the economy and avoid recession, there needs to be relief for every tax payer and business in the country.

Contact public affairs reporter at [email protected]. Video by Stephen O’Saben | TV2