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  Home Page » News » Residents Endure Wait To Hear And See McCain

Residents endure wait to hear and see McCain

by Kathrine Warren
Herald Staff Report Hours before John McCain was set to walk onstage at Durango High School's football field, people waited in a line that wrapped through the north parking lot and into the fairgrounds, along Main Avenue and back into the field by the Durango/La Plata Senior Center.

"It is well worth the wait," Durango resident Karen Pearcey said Friday as she was about to enter the high school after waiting over an hour.

People came for various reasons as a presidential candidate visited Durango for the first time since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

They wore McCain T-shirts or handmade signs to show support for the Republican senator from Arizona.

"I like McCain's platform and I trust him," said Durango resident Gary Wold. "(This rally) shows he cares about rural towns and this visit may convince people who are still on the fence."

Others in line weren't there to support a candidate, but rather to check out the rally.

"I'm not voting for McCain, but I'm a fan of the political process," Greg Shearer said. "Colorado's a swing state, and I think it's good for him to stop here."

Inside the rally, the excitement was apparent.

Mary Vandemark, of Tucson, Ariz., was handing out "Country First" signs for fans to wave.

Vandemark and her husband, Piete, were visiting Cortez earlier this week, and when they heard McCain would be in town, they extended their visit and volunteered to help during the rally.

"He's an honorable man, and I trust him as a senator," Vandemark said.

Some in the crowd wore buttons or shirts supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

DHS senior Anna Pierotti had an Obama sticker on the back of her jacket and said she was told to take it off or security would be called.

Her friend Delia Bolster wore an Obama shirt under her jacket and said she almost wasn't let in through security.

"I'm here to hear McCain speak so I can understand him better, but I also think it's important to show my support for Obama," she said.

After McCain finished speaking, Durango resident Carla Matney said her mind had been made up about whom to vote for.

"He appealed to me and what I'm going through," Matney said. "Durango should be proud of itself for the way it behaved tonight."

kwarren@durangoherald.com
Kathrine Warren is an intern at The Durango Herald