Palin wows the crowd

BOISE - Organizers estimate about 2,000 people attended a rally Friday headlined by Idaho-born, conservative superstar Sarah Palin.

Empty seats at the 5,000-capacity Qwest Arena in Boise surprised some attendees who had expected a much-larger crowd. Still, enough tickets were sold to cover the costs associated with the event, Mike Tracy, a media consultant for the Vaughn Ward campaign, said.

While mostly subdued during opening acts that included a musical performance by Nampa Mayor Tom Dale, the crowd came to life when Palin hit the stage.

"Let me ask you Idaho, do you love your freedom?" she said to loud applause.

The 2008 vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor flew into Boise Friday morning.

Ward supporters were optimistic about a pre-election boost in his congressional race from the high-profile endorsement.

"We think, obviously, these things always help, but it's always difficult to gauge how much of an impact it has," Tracy said. "But when she has supported conservative Republicans across the country, they have done very well."

Idaho Schools Superintendent Tom Luna and Caldwell Sen. John McGee were among the opening speakers, praising the staunch conservative values shared by Ward and Palin, a potential Republican presidential primary contender in 2012.

Noting her communications degree from the University of Idaho, Palin urged the crowd to hold the media accountable. The media's "dishonest" treatment of conservatives, she said, is a "perversion" and "violation" of the country's freedom of press.

She took aim briefly at incumbent Walt Minnick, the Democrat recently endorsed by the national Tea Party Express group. She slammed Minnick's more liberal congressional colleagues: "Walt, it's who you're hanging with, man."

Palin first heard of Ward while running as a vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket in 2008. Ward had campaigned on behalf of her and John McCain, R-Ariz., in their bid for the White House.

Ward is a leading candidate in next week's Republican primary for Idaho's 1st Congressional District seat, along with state Rep. Raul Labrador of Eagle, and the winner will face off against incumbent Democrat Walt Minnick in November.

A mix of young and older supporters attended Friday's rally. Many, including 22-year-old Sophie Rumph, admitted they came more for a chance to see Palin than anything else.

"Yes," Rumph said after the rally, "but now I'm more excited about Ward. It helps to see him in person."

Ward's campaign has faced criticism for apparently copying passages from other politicians' websites on his website, a rebuke from the Pentagon over an online ad and mailer showing him decked out in camouflage and body armor, and for failing to disclose all of his family's assets last year in a form required under federal congressional rules. He later filed an amended disclosure form.

Some supporters like Ann Heltsley of Boise County echoed themes touched on by Palin, including criticism of the media's role in reporting recent Ward-campaign troubles.

"The more the press is negative about Vaughn Ward, the more people will want to vote for him," Heltsley said.

Several protesters stood outside the arena before, during and after the event. Some like Eric Anderson, 18, held signs with slogans like "Spill Baby Spill." Anderson said the signs garnered mixed responses at the event.

"The best way to get some attention is simple comedy," Anderson said. "One guy got really (mad). But I just talked to another guy about health-care reform, and it was an intelligent conversation."

Labrador campaign manager Dennis Mansfield, who attended the Palin appearance, said earlier this week that she is revered by many conservatives, but he doesn't think that translates into strength for Ward: "None of us know who he is. He's become the ultimate cut-and-paste candidate, not just from his website."

Jabs at media, liberals

At Friday's rally, Ward and Palin both hit on the "change" theme that had been a pillar of Obama's presidential campaign in 2008.

"How many of you like that word now?" Ward asked the crowd. "'Change' takes on a whole new meaning in 2010."

Cheers rang out when she mentioned that Idahoans "proudly cling to their guns and religion."

"It's just such a hometown feeling, the hospitality that is Idaho," Palin said. "Unpretentious, patriotic, average Americans who just want not a whole lot from government."