More than 20,000 supporters of Sen. John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin packed a Fairfax park Wednesday to hear the Republican presidential nominee slam his opponent on spending, defense and energy and urge them to deliver a critical swing state in November.
The turnout at the Van Dyck Park rally, which the campaign estimated at 23,000-strong, the largest since the Republican convention last week, is a reminder of the still-powerful Republican presence in Northern Virginia that could dampen Democrats’ momentum in a region critical to winning the state. The Old Dominion hasn’t supported a Democratic candidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
“The commonwealth of Virginia is a battleground state,” McCain said. “We must win it, and we will win it with your support.”
The event was originally planned for Fairfax High School, which drew protests from Fairfax County school board members who pointed to a policy that bars campaign activity during school hours. Citing space constraints, the campaign moved the venue to the park.
McCain and Palin were preceded by Virginia Republican leaders and former senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson, who reprised his attack-dog role at the Republican National Convention by framing Barack Obama as inexperienced and irresolute, and the media as unfair and excessive in its treatment of Palin.
He took particular aim at Obama’s assertion in a recent interview that his executive experience running a large campaign trumps that of Palin, who was mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Alaska, before becoming governor in 2006.
“Barack Obama must be the first person in the history of presidential politics who thinks that running for president is a qualification to be president,” Thompson said.
By comparison, McCain and Palin were far less aggressive, holding to well-worn themes heard throughout the campaign. McCain did take jabs at his opponent for his opposition to expanded domestic drilling, pessimism on the war in Iraq and federal earmark requests.
“He was wrong on Iraq, he was wrong on Iran, and he was wrong when he made a moral equivocation between Russia and Georgia when Russia invaded,” McCain said.
Democrats called the speeches light on substance and said the Republicans avoided discussing major troubles facing the country. Virginia Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, whose district encompassed the rally, congratulated the GOP on a successful gathering but said the McCain campaign failed to mention the federal government’s $407 billion deficit or the nearly broke federal highway trust fund.
“It was a good day for the Republicans, they had a very nice event,” Petersen said. “I think at the end of the day to win Fairfax County voters, there’s going to have to be some substance there, and I haven’t heard it yet.”
McCain supporters at the rally, many of them clad in red, spoke optimistically of the strong turnout and what it meant for the Arizona Republican’s chances in Virginia.
“They need Virginia and I hope they win Virginia,” said Ron Black, of Chantilly, a retired Army master sergeant.
Susan Guenther, a homemaker who lives near Winchester, was equally encouraged by the rally.
“The media portrays McCain so far behind, and ‘Obama got there, everybody loves Obama,’ you begin to think you’re in a minority,” she said. “I think it’s maybe going to be closer than I thought it would.”
