Family, energy issues important to women
By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH, For The Weirton Daily TimesST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio - Local women who support the McCain-Palin presidential ticket don't just share Palin's values - some of them want to be like her.
And a few even want to look like her.
Patti Burghy of St. Clairsville made her way to the front of the largely Republican crowd at Brush Run Park on Sunday afternoon, anxious for a chance to shake Palin's hand. Alaska Gov. Palin, running mate of U.S. Sen. John McCain as he seeks the presidency, seemed both pleased and surprised to encounter Burghy as she talked with attendees after a 30-minute speech.
Burghy's dark hair was pulled back Palin-style to show off the "Sarah Palin glasses" she sported.
Alison Loase, 7, of Bethesda was another attendee who emulated Palin by wearing dark-rimmed, Palin-style glasses.
Her parents, Jill and Brian Loase, attended the event primarily because Alison wanted to be there.
"It was a nice presentation," Jill Loase said. "I wanted to go see what it was like. ... I think it would be nice if the politicians could do all the things they say."
Several other local women attended the event out of curiosity.
Jamie McMullen of Toronto said, "I came here to hear Sarah Palin talk. I like what I have heard so far."
And Amy Evon, a freshman at Franciscan University of Steubenville from Texas, said she came with friends who are Palin supporters.
"A lot of my friends like Sarah Palin, so I thought I would come with them today to hear what she had to say. I come from a family of six children, and I like her family approach to politics. She is very serious about family in her life."
The park, located off Airport Road just west of St. Clairsville, was packed with Palin supporters, including many females of all ages. Those women said they favor Palin's position on issues such as abortion, energy and family.
Palin, the mother of a 5-month-old son with Down syndrome, commented Sunday that she and her family will learn more from him than he ever would from them. She said after learning she would have a special needs child, she had to prepare herself for the challenges and admit she was scared.
"But now when I hold him, I'm not scared anymore," Palin said. "I feel blessed. Every child has something to give to the world if you just give that child a chance."
Dana Mistak of Belmont likes Palin because she does not seem to be like other politicians.
"I find her so ... she seems very authentic," Mistak said. "She's not the typical Washington politician, part of the 'good old boys club.' She seems like she understands the typical American family."
Mistak, a registered Democrat, also noted Republicans' support of the coal industry is important to her family. She is employed by the Belmont County Educational Resource Center, while her husband, Andy, is employed by the coal-mining firm Murray Energy Corp.
"We support Republicans because they support coal, and that's our bread and butter," she said.
Wheeling attorney Elgine McArdle, who also attended an August rally in support of Palin and McCain, was among those in the crowd outside St. Clairsville on Sunday.
''She's everything that I want to be,'' McArdle previously said of Palin. ''She's a hockey mom, a working mom. She's not scared to fight corruption. She's full of energy. There's nothing like a woman to multi-task. She's the epitome of a super mom.''
Katie Patrizo, a freshman at Franciscan University of Steubenville who is from California, prefers the pro-life stance of the Republican Party.
''I am here to show my support for Gov. Palin. I saw her speak in Wilmington, Ohio, and I like the fact she is very pro life,'' Patrizo said. ''She is the candidate we have been waiting for."
(Joselyn King and Dave Gossett contributed to this report.)
