Palin crowd estimated at 4,500

[Douglas R. Clifford  Times]

CLEARWATER -- Clearwater police estimated the crowd at 4,500. There were five reports of heat-related medical issues; none were considered serious.
--Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Press kept under a watchful eye

CLEARWATER -- Constantly under the watchful eyes of security, the media wasn't permitted to wander around inside Coachman Park to talk to Sarah Palin supporters. When reporters tried to leave the designated press area and head toward the bleachers where the crowd was seated, an escort would dart out of nowhere and confront him or her and say, "Can I help you?'' and turn the person around.

When one reporter asked an escort, who would not give her name, why the press wasn't allowed to mingle, she said that in the past, negative things had been written. The campaign wanted to avoid that possibility  Monday.

Photo by Tracie White of Clearwater

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-- Times staff writer Eileen Schulte

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This Reagan is a Palin fan

CLEARWATER -- Reagan Erickson, 10, came all the way from Lakeland with her grandparents to see Palin. She brought along a sign she made that said "Reagan thinks Palin rocks.''
Later, her grandfather, Robert Erickson, 61, managed to get the sign autographed by Palin.
Reagan said her two favorite people are Palin and Hannah Montana.
--Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Obama supporter among Palin crowd

CLEARWATER -- At least one Barack Obama supporter found his way to Coachman Park. Dominic Grillo, 76, of Dunedin, saw Obama when he spoke at Knology Park two weeks ago. Curiosity caused him to ride his bike down the Pinellas Trail to Clearwater. He said he wouldn't wait in line to see Palin, but when there were no lines, he decided to join the throng.
But he's far from converted. Grillo says McCain has poor judgment on everything, and he considers Palin an example of that poor judgment.
"She's certainly a smart woman, but she's certainly not presidential material, at least not yet.''
-- Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Speech over, Palin wades into crowd

[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

CLEARWATER -- Palin finished speaking about 9:30 and waded into the crowd of supporters, signing autographs for some. As she came off the platform a song began playing that included the refrain "she's not just a pretty face.''

For the record, she spent 30 minutes speaking and 25 minutes signing autographs.
--Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Crist: 'It's giddy-up time'

Sarah Palin took the stage at Coachman Park in Clearwater accompanied by Sen. Joe Lieberman (pictured) just after 9 a.m.

In his introduction of Palin, Lieberman (I-Conn.), said, "This lady is the best of America. She represents the values of the American heartland."

Palin began speaking at 9:09 a.m.

On hand to warm up the crowd were a host of Florida GOP notables. They included U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, State Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and Gov. Charlie Crist.

Martinez and Crist both stressed that the fight for Florida will be tough and that it's time for supporters to give their all.

"With 30 days to go, it's giddy-up time," the governor said.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

[Photo: Atoyia Deans, Times]

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Palin compares herself to Rays

CLEARWATER -- Gov. Sarah Palin has taken the stage. After thanking people for coming out and for their energy, she compared herself to the Rays.

"I know earlier in the year some of the experts were tough on the Rays,'' she said. "I've been there.''

--Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

Photo by Douglas R. Clifford | Times

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Rally rookie likes Palin's business stance

CLEARWATER -- This is the first rally Sue Bergman, 48, a Realtor from Tampa, has ever been to. She is among a group of people up on the bluff near the main library, a bit away from the rest of the crowd, getting a view from above. What draws her to the Alaska governor is the candidate's business acumen.
"I'm thrilled about Sarah Palin,'' said Bergman. Among the reasons she favors the McCain ticket is that she believes military service should be a prerequisite to serve as commander in chief.
--Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Scene at Palin rally

{Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
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CLEARWATER -- Thousands of people have packed Coachman Park as the scheduled time for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's speech draws close.

Two cranes hold very large American flags. There's also a large Florida state flag, and a lineup of state flags to the right of the podium.

The campaign has also brought along two large signs: "Country First" and "Victory in Florida."
As you might guess, there's plenty of security. It's posted on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge, on the bluff at the library and in Clearwater Harbor, where the Coast Guard is patrolling.

One interesting touch: The campaign has arranged for volunteers in one set of bleachers to wear shirts that mirror the American flag. In the top left corner they're all wearing blue, elsewhere they alternate bands of red and white.

-- Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Signs vetted at Palin event

You can leave your political signs at home, kids.

That's what event officials at today's Sarah Palin rally in Coachman Park told a group of eighth-graders from St. Cecilia's Catholic School in Clearwater. The 53 students had filed into the park two by two wearing their light-blue school uniforms and carrying their homemade signs.

The signs appeared to be of a nonpartisan nature, some with pro-America messages on them. But officials at the gates singled them out, and the signs joined a growing pile by the entrance.

"It's not that we are for Republicans or against Republicans, said Marcia Aurebach, an American history teacher from the school who was escorting the children. "We're here to see history being made."

Some homemade signs appeared to be making it into the rally area. Some items, like umbrellas, were banned.

In anticipation of Palin's 9 a.m. speech, Congressman C.W. Bill Young (R-Indian Rocks Beach) warmed up the crowd. He asked rhetorically whether a woman was tough enough to lead the country. He then gave three examples of strong women leaders: Golda Meir, former Israeli prime minister; Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister; and his wife, Beverly.

Addressing Palin's qualifications, Young said that a lot of people wondered about former President Bill Clinton when he was running, because he was just the governor of a small state.

He pointed out that Palin is the governor of the nation's largest state.

Jonathan Abel and Luis Perez, Times Staff Writers

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Don't come to Coachman Park for Obama pins

Clearwater is starting to come alive. Traffic is backed up for about five blocks along Ft. Harrison Ave., the main north-south downtown thoroughfare.

And the GOP isn't just on people's backs. On Drew Street, Scientologists stand in front of a table giving out pamphlets and DVDs. They said the red table cloth is supposed to draw the Palin supporters.

Clearwater Realtor Tom Calhoun, 62, got in line for the political event about 7:40 a.m. He said he likes Palin because "she is straightforward and she is a real person."

Obama, he added, is "an empty suit."

Calhoun said he wants scrutiny into who funded Obama's education and his connection to Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a housing advocacy organization.

Moving through the lines nearby, is John Doyle, 43. He makes his own campaign pins and travels with Palin. Doyle, of Los Angeles, said his pins are modeled after turn-of-the century campaign pins, but instead of 19th-century presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt, his 2-inch replica pins feature McCain and Palin.

He didn't have any Obama pins.

"I'm ideologically opposed to Obama," said Doyle. "I don't believe anything he says."

Doyle said he would be following Palin until he runs out of pins. He said he had a few thousand of them left.

Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

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Supporter: Palin visit the 'opportunity of a lifetime'

Sarah Palin supporters are streaming in by bus, bicycle and on foot to catch the vice presidential candidate's 9 a.m. speech at Coachman park in Clearwater.

Overwhelmingly, the clothing color of choice is GOP red.

According to Clearwater firefighter Scott Pettay, supporters began arriving at midnight to be the first in when gates opened at 6 a.m. Clearwater spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said between 9,000 and 12,000 people are expected.

Clearwater homemaker Bonnie Wright, 58, got to the gates about 6:30. She called seeing Palin in Clearwater "the opportunity of a lifetime."

"She seems to me to be the most clear-spoken, easily understandable candidate," Wright said. "And I'm not for socialist government."

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

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