Area leaders: Palin brings ‘new energy’

By Ray Reed

Published: September 3, 2008

The mood was totally positive about Sarah Palin’s vice presidential candidacy at a Republican National Convention watch party in Lynchburg on Wednesday night.

“She means new energy for the Republican Party,” said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District, sponsor of the gathering.

Roughly 100 party volunteers and supporters filtered through the watch party in downtown Lynchburg, but only 30 stayed to watch Palin’s first speech since presidential candidate John McCain surprised most of the nation Friday by choosing the Alaska governor as his running mate.

The hard-core group had its own cheering section: Lynchburg council members Jeff Helgeson and Scott Garrett applauded loudly at several of Palin’s comments, including one about serving on the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska.

“Since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves,” Palin said, drawing shouts of “yeah” and handclaps from Helgeson and Garrett.

Others in the Lynchburg crowd praised the strategy behind Palin’s nomination.

“I’m very energized by Sen. McCain’s choice,” said Don Sloan of Lynchburg. “I was very concerned he was going to pick someone that would abandon the religious base” of the party, Sloan said.

Palin, however, has proven as governor that she is “against the good-old-boy club that too many in Washington” have joined, Sloan said. Palin represents a new direction, he said.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama “talks about change but he’s one of the most consistent insiders in Washington. He’s not talking about change at all,” Sloan said.

Lynchburg Sheriff Ron Gillispie said he wanted to hear what Palin had to say.

“I think there’s a lot of support here for her,” Gillispie said. “I just want to hear from her lips what she’s all about.”

Lance Ridpath of Concord said he, too, was excited about having Palin on the party’s ticket.

“I have yet to meet anyone who calls himself a conservative who isn’t fired up about having Palin be the pick,” Ridpath said.

News coverage about Palin’s family, including her teenage daughter’s pregnancy, didn’t sway Ridpath. The Palin family confirmed their daughter, Bristol, 17, is five months pregnant and plans to marry.

“If that’s the worst thing they can say about her, she is in really good shape,” Ridpath said.

Dave Thurman, of Lynchburg, said he hoped the media would leave Palin’s family out of the news.

“That’s over the edge,” Thurman said. “I don’t think it benefits Republicans or Democrats to criticize teenagers.”

Bill Worley, also of Lynchburg, said teenagers face enough pressure without the eyes of the nation focused on them.

“But with the whole media on her shoulders wanting to rip her up, that borders on being wicked,” Worley said.