Palin comes home to vote; visits with fans

WASILLA — Gov. Sarah Palin visited with a large crowd of supporters early Tuesday morning outside Wasilla City Hall to shake hands and pose for photographs before filling out her ballot.

Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, came back to Wasilla to vote in her hometown before flying to Phoenix to join her running mate, Republican presidential candidate John McCain, to watch election night returns.

Palin made history in Alaska when McCain chose her as his running mate Aug. 29.

As early as 5 a.m. Tuesday, well-wishers and supporters lined up along the Parks Highway to wave signs and cheer on their hometown candidate.

Wasilla resident Rebecca Dargis said she was very optimistic Palin would be the next vice-president.

“It’s already in the bag,” Dargis said.

It was 12 hours later — about 7 p.m. Alaska time — that Obama was declared the next President of the United States and McCain conceded the election.

But it was nothing but optimism as the polls prepared to open and Palin to cast her ballot Tuesday morning.

Down the line of supporters, Tracey Porreca, also a Wasilla resident, took pictures to commemorate the moment.

Porreca said when McCain picked Palin it solidified her vote.

“When he brought Sarah on board that sewed it up,” she said.

The occasion of Palin voting also brought media from all corners of the earth. Dutch and Japanese reporters stood by waiting for a glimpse.

When Palin finally arrived at Wasilla City Hall, supporters, mostly led by a cheering Linda Jo Klapperich, couldn’t contain their enthusiasm.

Chants of “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah” echoed off surrounding houses, with a few cheers for Todd Palin thrown in the mix.

Palin shook hands the entire way down the line of assembled supporters.

“I’m feeling good today,” Palin said, adding she was proud to take part in the voting process like millions of other Americans.

Since being picked as McCain’s running mate, the little known governor from an often misunderstood state has renewed interest in Alaska and put Wasilla on the map.

Critics and supporters closely followed Palin’s every move since she joined the campaign, and Tuesday’s election culminatd nearly two straight months of campaigning for Palin.

Ardent fans of Palin braved the chilly morning air to tell passing motorists and news crews who they were supporting.

Jeannie Erickson, who drove up from Eagle River, said there’s one simple reason she voted for McCain-Palin.

“Because I love Sarah,” she said.

No matter the outcome, Palin told well-wishers at city hall that she’ll always be the same person she’s been no matter where she is.

“I’ll always be Sarah from Wasilla,” Palin said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.