Local Republicans expect a capacity crowd of at least 8,000 to greet GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Saturday.

"People are really eager to hear her speak. They're drawn to her and her charisma," said Lancaster County GOP Chairman Dave Dumeyer.

This morning, dozens of people lined up outside party headquarters at 902 Columbia Ave. to get their free tickets to the event.

The rally is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Palin, the governor of Alaska, is likely to begin speaking around 11 a.m. at the city venue, said Dumeyer.

In a separate development, the GOP said today that one of Palin's most vocal supporters — former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson — will make a stop in the county later this month.

Thompson, who had sought the GOP nomination for president but dropped out before the primary, will speak at an Oct. 29 luncheon at the Lancaster Host Resort on Lincoln Highway East.

Cindy McCain, wife of presidential nominee John McCain, is also expected to visit Lancaster over the weekend or early next week — but not for a public event. She is said to be attending a private fundraiser hosted by a local Republican.

Doors to Saturday's Palin rally, meantime, will open at 8:30 a.m. at the 650 N. Prince St. stadium.

Palin will speak from a platform set in the infield of the baseball field, home to the Lancaster Barnstormers. Much of the crowd will surround it, while others will be seated in the stadium.

Don Pryer, the director of stadium operations, said officials there are expecting 5,000 to 7,000 to attend. "We'll be able to accommodate about 8,000," he said.

Tickets are being distributed at local GOP headquarters today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are also being given out in York, Dauphin, Cumberland and Lebanon counties.

Palin's appearance is designed to shore up support and reignite some of the enthusiasm for the Republican ticket that was evident after GOP nominee John McCain chose her to be his running mate.

McCain and Palin drew an estimated 7,000 supporters to Franklin & Marshall College on Sept 9, for example. But statewide polls have shown they have fallen steadily since that moment in early September and are trailing in some cases by double-digits.

Republican candidates for local and statewide offices are expected to speak before Palin on Saturday.

Tickets to the Thompson event are $50 for the noontime luncheon alone or $200 for the VIP reception with Thompson beforehand and the luncheon. They are $35 for committee people or others associated with the party.

The event is a fundraiser for the county Republicans. To get tickets, call the party headquarters at 392-4165 or stop by the office.


Staff writer Tom Murse can be reached at tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021.