Wasilla residents gather early to cheer on Palin

WASILLA, Alaska _ Sarah Palin supporters began gathering early Thursday at the Mug-Shot Saloon in her hometown of Wasilla, where outside the bar hung a banner that said "Go Sarah! We love you."

Inside the dark, somewhat cavernous bar, where the odor of cigarette smoke hangs heavy, customers gathered around the bar to watch the debate.

Among them was 52-year-old Sherry Johnson, who wore a sweat shirt that said "Go Sarah" in red lettering on the back and "McCain/Palin" on the front.

Johnson said she flew in from Skwentna, a village of 85 people located along the Iditarod trail and far off the road system, for the occasion so that she could be around her friends and other Palin supporters.

Johnson, who now works on the North Slope as a housekeeper, lived in Wasilla for 10 years and remembers Palin well when she was mayor.

"I used to drive a cab, and she was in my cab. I knew who she was ... she's just a very nice lady. She is very approachable."

"She has done a lot of really good stuff for this state," Johnson said.

She predicted that Palin would do just fine if people would only give her a chance to say what's needs to be said.

"They should quit knocking our girl," she said. "The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. We learn as we go."

Johnson likened Palin as mayor to the bartender at the Mug-Shot, who knows without asking what Johnson's favorite drink is.

"You got to take care of your bartender because they take care of me," said Johnson, after winning $300 on a lottery ticket. She spent $73 of that buying a round for the house and handing the bartender a $47 tip.

At a nearby bar where people also were gathered to watch the debate, Dan Alcock, 60, said he's known Palin for years and she can take whatever they throw at her on the national political scene.

"She's not scared," he said, watching the TV at Tailgaters sports bar.

"Sarah is pretty intelligent. She has to be pretty fearless," he said.

As far as the Palin-mania that has swept the nation, Alcock said he's not part of that.

"I hate politics. Personally, I came down here to watch the ballgame."

Back at the Mug-Shot Saloon, 57-year-old Cliff Jenkins of Wasilla teared up as he talked about how Palin has helped the veterans of this community.

Jenkins said it was Palin as both mayor and governor that got approval for a veterans center for Wasilla, part of the fastest growing area of Alaska.

Instead of having to bum a ride from a friend, or pay $130 for a round-trip cab ride for the 40-mile trip to Anchorage, the veterans center will provide medical and psychiatric help locally.

"She does a lot for the vets up here," Jenkins said.

"She talked to all of the volunteers who were helping, and that is cool," said Jenkins, who served two tours in the Vietnam War and sat at the bar wearing a red and gold cap that said "United States Marine Corps."

Bernie and Mary Ziemianek stopped in at the Mug-Shot having seen the "Go Sarah!" banner, figuring they could buy T-shirts to bring back to family and friends in Seattle. They're on a one-week vacation in Alaska.

The couple clapped loudly when they felt Palin scored a point in saying it would be a big mistake if the United States pulled out of Iraq.

"I like the way she's talking to the people," Mary Ziemianek said of Palin's direct look into the camera when she answered questions.

"I hope some day she will be president," she said.

Bernie Ziemianek said Biden was losing the audience in a bunch of words.

"He's losing everyone with loosey-goosey stuff," he said.

"He's on the ropes. She's calm and cool, assured of herself," he said.

His wife said she's not concerned in the least about Palin's lack of experience and lackluster performances in interviews with the national media.

"I think they put a lot on her shoulders, and I think she is standing up to it," she said.

"I am not concerned she's not ready," she said, adding that Palin will gather the best advisers around her and will listen to everyone of them before making a decision.