2011 Luzerne County Elections

October 14, 2008

Sea of red to greet Palin in Scranton

First NEPA visit for GOP contender

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin walks into the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton today, she will see red.

And that’s a good thing if you are a supporter of the Republican ticket of Ariz. Sen. John McCain and Palin.

An e-mail sent from the McCain-Palin campaign urges those attending to wear red to the rally.

“We want to flood the venue with red to show our strength and determination to turn Pennsylvania red on Nov. 4,” the e-mail stated.

Red is the color used by political pundits to depict which states are Republican and blue is used to designate Democratic areas.

Carol Oleski, director of the Scranton office of Democrats for McCain, said the level of enthusiasm building up to Palin’s arrival is “unbelievable.”

“Absolutely, we will all be wearing red,” Oleski said. “We were told 10,000 tickets would be available for the event and they are going out fast. I expect a majority, if not all of them, will go.”

The Riverfront Sports Complex, depending on how it is configured, could hold up to 12,000 people.

Oleski said people from all areas have been calling for tickets. She said requests have come in from New York, New Jersey, Pottstown, Allentown and even California.

“Some people are actually flying in for this event,” Oleski said. “Most of the ticket requests have come from surrounding counties, but I expect a lot of people from out of the area to be here.”

Oleski said Palin’s visit has excited the volunteers in the office who she said have long awaited the Alaska governor’s arrival.

“We are all glad that Gov. Palin is giving this area the opportunity to see and hear her,” Oleski said. “We feel this area is extremely critical to the outcome of this election.”

Doors to the Palin rally open at 11 a.m. It is unknown exactly what time Palin will address the crowd.

Staunch Hillary Clinton supporter Lynette Long, a Bethesda, Md. psychologist, addressed a group at the Scranton office of Democrats for McCain on Monday.

Long, a vocal opponent of the Democratic caucus process that resulted in the nomination of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, has become an avid supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket.

Long believes the efforts produced invalid results in the caucus states and the nomination of Obama as the Democratic candidate for the presidency is “against the will of the people.”

Long has now endorsed the McCain-Palin ticket.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

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