PHOTOS: McCain's Crowd Numbers Plummet In Princess Yep Yep's Absence

[Amerigo Vespucci]

McCain's Crowd Numbers Plummet In Palin's Absence

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/mccains-crowd-numbers-plu_n_126490.html

ohn McCain returned to the campaign trail on Monday, only this time without his popular vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin. The results were somewhat less than enthusiastic. As reported by MSNBC's First Read, the Republican presidential nominee addressed a crowd of roughly 3,000 people in a stadium that seats 16,000.

The pictures, however, tell many more words. The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena where McCain spoke had large swaths of sections entirely empty, an American flag draped over the seats.









Palin has helped McCain make up much of this enthusiasm gap he had with Barack Obama - though, as as Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, the campaign has been exaggerating its crowd numbers. And it remains to be seen how many people the Alaska Governor attracted at her own stop today in Colorado. But McCain's low attendance figures on Monday may, in the end, persuade his campaign to plan more joint appearances going forward, a small but potentially important development.

UPDATE: Jonathan Martin at Politico reports that Palin drew approximately twice as many people as McCain this morning. All of which, the McCain campaign says, is no big deal -- taunting a bit by pointing to the polls.

"Scoreboard check," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "They're hurting in Florida - our attendance on a Monday morning is better off than Barack Obama's empty rhetoric and absent record - that won't deliver change."

[marylanddem]

1. Without Sideshow Sarah the Moose Skinner by his side,

he's got no draw.

[cyberpj]

2. And a good portion of those are most likely (and I use the term loosely) journalists. nt

[tblue37]

14. SOme might even be attending to catch sight of the gimmick before she

is dropped from the campaign--out of curiosity, not enthusiasm.

[thereismore]

3. Vacant! How depressing. Now tell me how is this a horserace??? nt

[ladjf]

4. They want to see their "Fertility Goddess", maybe even stuff

some bills into her stockings.

[grace0418]

5. I asked this in another thread: WHY SO MANY? Seriously, while I laugh and point ala

Nelson from the Simpsons, I still have to wonder what the fuck is wrong with the people who are there.

[grytpype]

6. Damn that's funny.

[chicagoexpat]

7. John McCain Lie Counter Web Page

John McCain Lie Counter Web Page
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7075041&mesg_id=7075041

[nickyt]

8. So I guess the next McCain ad says, "Why doesn't Obama drape giant flags over

HIS empty seats?!"

Cuz there AIN'T no empty seats when Obama shows up, dude!!! Haw haw haw!

[beac]

10. Not to mention that it's FLAG DESECRATION.

But what do they care? As long as it's not on fire, anything goes! :shrug:

[bdamomma]

9. what the religious right is not supporting John??

:sarcasm:

[VWolf]

11. Puppet Show and John McCain

/Spinal Tap

[progressoid]

12. But, but, but, I heard there were lines to get in.

Lines to get into the toilet.

[nichomachus]

15. You don't need to stand in line

if you're wearing Depends.

[intheflow]

13. Palin in Golden, CO today, Obama here tomorrow.

It will be really interesting to see what the comparative crowd sizes are.

[Narkos]

16. That is some sad shit....n/t

[tanyev]

17. Princess Yep Yep.

I like that almost as much as Mooselini.

:rofl:

[Forkboy]

18. No one can tell me that these fuckers can win this thing without stealing it.

[Patsy Stone]

19. Upside?

They spent a LOT of money to rent that big, empty barn. :rofl:

[FourScore]

20. Remember the 1970's anti-war poster

Imagine there was a war and nobody came? Or somethin like that...

Anyway, imagine John McCain gives a speech and nobody comes...