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by MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON
Intern News Reporter
A sea of 7,000 standing supporters carried “Country First” and “Let Joe Keep his Dough” signs Saturday at the Cabarrus Arena and Event Center in Cabarrus County, 10 miles north of Charlotte.
The crowd assembled as early as 6:30 a.m. to show support for their presidential choice, Sen. John McCain.
“We’ve been here since 6:30 [a.m.],” Charlotte resident R. Gene Herkey said. “I’m impressed with all the turnout and I hope [supporters] keep coming.”
Herkey joined other supporters in welcoming the presidential candidate Saturday morning.
The crowd waited until 8 a.m. when the doors to the 6,000 seat arena opened.
Those who arrived early were given standing room in front of the speaker’s podium.
Following opening remarks by Sen. Richard Burr, Cindy McCain introduced her husband.
McCain
began his speech by encouraging voters to participate in early voting,
then dove into the character of the week, “Joe the Plumber.”
“He’s the only person to get a real answer out of Senator Obama about his plans for our country,” McCain said.
Signs were held all across the arena reflecting the audience’s familiarity with Joe.
“Joe’s
dream is to own a small business that will create jobs in his
community,” McCain said. “The attack on small businesses all over the
country that employ 84 percent of Americans.”
McCain’s heavy appeal to supporters came from his discussions on Joe the Plumber and comparisons to small business owners.
This created artillery in arguing Obama’s wealth distribution plan.
“Senator
Obama’s economic goal is, as he told Joe, is to quote, ‘spread the
wealth around,’” McCain said. “He believes in redistributing the
wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs...this
explains…my opponent’s claim that he will cut income taxes for 95
percent of Americans, when more than 40 percent pay no income taxes
right now? How do you reduce the number zero?”
McCain continued to compare his plan for tax cuts and Obama’s plans, and then responded to many of the complaints against him.
“I said
it at the last debate: I’m not George Bush; if Senator Obama wants to
run against George Bush, he should have run for president four years
ago,” McCain said. “We need a new direction now. We have to fight for
it.”
McCain shed light on his record of experience and then spoke on the continued economic woes.
“I have
a plan to protect the value of your home and get it rising again…I have
a plan to let retirees and people nearing retirement keep their money…I
have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them,” he said.
McCain
continued his speech, noting the outsourcing of jobs overseas, and then
replied to the continuous “drill, baby, drill” chant.
“We will start new drilling now,” he said. “We will invest in all energy alternatives.”
Charlotte resident Sarah Bemus expressed the sentiments of most supporters at the rally.
“I wanted to come somewhere where it is all positive in the presence of people in unison for our party,” she said.
Rallies like these for both candidates will continue until Election Day Nov. 4.
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