DOUBLE TAKE

Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE — Supporters of Gov. Sarah Palin held a welcome home and a send-off party at the same time Saturday morning.

Palin appeared with her husband, Todd, daughters Willow and Piper, and her youngest son Trig at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center downtown. The event took place just before Palin boarded a plane heading for Carson City, Nev., her next campaign stop.

The pro-Palin crowd gave her a raucous welcoming.

“It’s so good to be home,” Palin said from the podium.

It’s been just over two weeks since Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain chose Palin as his running mate.

The choice to bring Palin to the ticket surprised everyone, from Republican party officials to Palin’s own parents, Chuck and Sally Heath of Wasilla. Since that day Aug. 29, Palin fever has gripped the Mat-Su Valley and much of Alaska as the 49th state sits squarely in the spotlight.

The enthusiasm for Palin was evident at the 9:30 a.m. rally Saturday. Onlookers waved signs, chanted “USA” and “drill, baby, drill,” and cheered loudly as Palin spoke.

An Iraq war protest sign unfurled by two men was quickly blocked after audience members hoisted McCain-Palin signs to cover the message. The pair could be seen outside the convention center arguing with revelers shortly after Palin spoke.

That was the only negative incident during Palin’s speech Saturday, an event that was part of the governor’s first visit back to Alaska since being named vice presidential candidate.

On Friday night, a rally held in Palin’s honor at the Best Western on Lake Lucille attracted many local Palin supporters, the governor’s parents and even a Sarah Palin look-alike. The event was put on by the state’s Republican party. Although Palin drew cheers Saturday morning in Anchorage, she did not appear at Friday evening’s Wasilla rally.

Among the crowd Friday, Chuck and Sally Heath were inundated by Outside media still in town and hungry for another Palin story.

Chuck Heath said the new endeavor his daughter is on still hasn’t sunk in.

As to the media that has come to Alaska looking to dig up dirt on Palin, Heath said he reckons they will have some trouble.

“Good luck,” he said. “Don’t underestimate her.”

That advice directed toward the media was mentioned more than once Friday.

John Klapperich, the owner of Q99.7 Valley Radio, said there is no negative information reporters will find on Palin.

“Dig deep and look,” Klapperich said. “Because you’re not going to find any dirt.”

One story being reported by media across the country is Palin’s alleged banning of books from the Wasilla library.

Many news organizations have written the story incorrectly, and have asserted Palin actually banned books. That’s not the case.

Current Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller, in a speech at Friday’s rally, implored media that was present to check their facts and get the story right.

Keller had the crowd laughing when she said a reporter read a list of books Palin supposedly banned. On that list was a Harry Potter book, a title that didn’t exist when Palin was mayor.

Regardless of media reports the past few weeks, Alaskans seemed generally excited to see Palin back in her home state.

Borough Mayor Curt Menard, who has known Palin since she was a child, said nothing as exciting has happened to Alaska in a long time.

“We are so excited about our next vice president of the United States,” Menard said.

Apparently, so were the folks who turned out Saturday morning.

As stone-faced Secret Service agents flanked Palin and her husband, the pair signed autographs and shook hands.

Even as Palin’s reputation and history have been picked apart in recent weeks as the rest of the country races to learn about her, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell told the audience Saturday why, in his view, Palin is right for the job.

“She’s earned our trust with her dedicated service,” Parnell said.

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