Sarah Palin's Message to Elon Students

Elon, N.C., Oct. 17, 2008— -- It's no mystery to Tony Terrell of Burlington, N.C., why GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would swing through the area for a Thursday afternoon campaign appearance at nearby Elon University.

The Alaska governor "needs to come because support is eroding," the 63-year-old military veteran said of this normally reliable Republican stronghold.

But as the race in North Carolina becomes competitive with fewer than three weeks to the election, the GOP's "Road to Victory" rally landed in the state's conservative Piedmont region Thursday to the relief of the party's faithful and the delight of college administrators.

"Regardless of who you support, it is a rare opportunity" for Elon, Jodean Schmiederer, assistant dean of students, said.

Jim Rampton, 21, a senior at the school who described himself as a moderate, said he is an undecided voter, although he was pleased to hear Palin address helping special-needs children as well as McCain's military experience.

Freshmen Alex Ciessau, 18, and Max Faneuff, 18, said they have already voted absentee for the McCain-Palin ticket, adding that they attended the rally for the experience more than anything else.

Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who's in an unexpectedly close race for reelection in North Carolina, told the crowd assembled at Latham Park before Palin arrived, "I have had the opportunity to break some glass ceilings along the way."

Later, the state's other GOP senator, Richard Burr, introduced Palin as "one of us."

As for Palin, who was accompanied by country music star Hank Williams Jr., the rally gave her another opportunity to cover some familiar themes, minus the negative attacks on Sen. Barack Obama that had become a staple of her campaign.

"We are looking to the future," Palin said, "ready to lead on day one."

Speaking from home plate at the park's baseball field, she assured the audience of her competence, reminding them of her achievements in Alaska.

A mostly friendly and calm event, one protestor was escorted out of the park, to which Palin said, "maybe he needs to stay," to learn about her positions.

Evan Davis, 19, a sophomore from Highpoint, N.C., noted that, "Palin is the only person on either ticket with executive experience."

Allison Kutz, a freshman from Ohio, said that the Palin nomination sealed her vote for the Republican Party. "We need something new," Kutz said.

But Lauren Taylor, a junior from New Jersey, stood outside of the park with a poster reading, "Palin does not speak for this woman."

Taylor and Lauren Mottel, a junior from New York, were upset because they were not allowed to protest closer to the event.

Smith Jackson, school vice president and dean of student life, took the signs across the street to the designated protesting area.

Mottel said, "Taking my sign away is like taking my free speech away. They agreed that it is important to have different political parties, but they said they did not want Elon University to appear to be supporting Gov. Palin."