Crowds file in to Show Me Center to see Palin

A line stretched from the Show Me Center's north entrance all the way around the building up New Madrid Avenue early this morning, almost reaching that road's intersection with Henderson Avenue.

Many of the people in the crowd were waiting for hours to get in and have a prime spot to see Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican party's vice presidential nominee. Today's "Road to Victory" rally at the Show Me Center is expected to start at 8:30 a.m., with Palin taking the stage around 9:30 a.m.

Traffic stretched all the way to Broadway from the Show Me Center just after 7 a.m.

Outside and inside the Show Me Center the atmosphere was festive this morning, with people in the crowd yelling for Palin, some doing the wave, some dancing to the music of the Mike Renick Band.

One man came from Liberty, Mo., carrying a sign reading "You'll do fine." Donald Mann had seen Pres. George W. Bush in Liberty in June 2004, and made the trip to Cape Girardeau this election cycle to see Palin. His sign was meant to inspire Palin. In 2004, Mann made a sign for the Bush visit that said "Win big."

Some crowd members also made clear their dislike for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic opponent of Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Brian McAllister of Jackson, when asked what America would look like under a McCain presidency, said "Our children get to keep their Halloween candy," in a barb aimed at Obama's controversial "share the wealth" remarks.

Look for more on this event later at semissourian.com, and watch live video on our home page.