SALEM, N.H. — A steady stream of die-hard Republicans, undecided voters, curiosity seekers — and, shhh, even a few Democrats — stopped by the local GOP office yesterday to pick up tickets to see Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tomorrow.
Tickets to attend the visit by Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate have become a hot commodity in town, second only to Red Sox-Rays playoff tickets.
Jeff Hatch, chairman of Salem's Republican Committee, said he spent the weekend taking down hundreds of names of those who want to be there when Palin's Road to Victory Rally comes to Salem High School.
"It's going to be a circus in here the next couple days," Hatch said. "People have been coming in and calling asking for tickets since Saturday. It hasn't stopped."
Volunteers started handing out tickets at 3 p.m. yesterday, after picking them up at McCain headquarters in Manchester, and will continue today at their office at 356 S. Broadway, next to Sea World Pet Center.
For Diane Kirilin, one of the first in line, it was about seeing the potential first female vice president in the country's history.
"She's just really dynamic, really interesting," said Kirilin, a lifelong Democrat who will vote Republican this election. "And going to see her, it's part of history. ... I'd go if she was a Democrat."
The rally is at Salem High's football stadium, Grant Field, off Geremonty Drive. It has a bleacher capacity of 1,200, but organizers expect a crowd of between 5,000 and 8,000 in what could be one of the largest turnouts for a political event in town.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m., but Palin is not expected to speak until at least two hours later, giving security time to screen the audience.
When former President Clinton visited the high school, 2,000 people crowded into the auditorium. During the presidential primary, McCain drew about 1,000 people at a campaign stop at Woodbury School in Salem.
New Hampshire is one of several swing states both Republicans and Democrats are visiting this week to shore up support for the Nov. 4 election.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will campaign in Londonderry on Thursday, while his running mate Joseph Biden spent the day in the Granite State yesterday.
Before heading to Salem, Palin will make stops in Dover and Weirs Beach to host similar rallies. Her husband, Todd Palin, is expected to join her at the Salem stop. He attended a New Hampshire Snowmobile Association event in Fremont over the weekend.
McCain campaigners and Republican Party officials have remained mum on whether any other candidates will speak at the rally.
The tickets only state, "Join Gov. Sarah Palin and your New Hampshire ticket for a Road to Victory Rally."
"Nobody has told us," Hatch said. "But in our area, it could be anyone from John Sununu to whoever."
Salem police have met with school officials and the Secret Service to handle security procedures. It is unclear how much interaction Palin will have with the crowd or how long she will stay.
Joan Tuney of Salem just wants to hear Palin, but if she could shake her hand, that would be a plus.
"I'll have to do my hair up, just in case," Tuney said. "I love her."
Joe DiChiaro, a minister from Derry, said he doesn't mind waiting in the cold for a couple of hours to see Palin.
"She's got guts," he said. "And that's what we need."
