College Republican Federation of Virginia

24,000.  That’s the number of people officially in attendance at today’s McCain-Palin rally at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax.  Some media estimates went as high as 30,000 all told, which would triple the number of people Barack Obama managed to “inspire” after nearly a week of advertising. 

Originally scheduled to take place at Fairfax High School, the rally quickly outgrew that home.  Swelling to over 6,000 by mid afternoon on Tuesday, the McCain campaign began looking at alternative venues later in the evening, said one staffer I spoke to. 

The campaign even approached GMU about using the Patriot Center.  At first, according to the staffer, the campaign was told it would cost $30,000 to rent the Center.  But, when the campaign’s representatives showed up to pay GMU, they were told the price was now $50,000.  After telling the greedy and suspiciously Democrat-appointed school officials where to put their $50K bill, the campaign decided to go Woodstock.

They chose Van Dyck Park, at the suggestion of Fairfax’s Mayor, and worked overnight to turn a muddy sports field into the site of the last joint rally on the McCain-Palin campaign schedule.  And what an event.  A morning that had started out blustery and cold quickly gave way to sunshine and cool breezes as the main event approached.  Proving once again that while Obama talks about change, John McCain actually delivers it.

24,000, with less than 24 hours notice and bad weather.  For perspective, it took Obama a full week of promotion for his event in NoVA, and The One only drew 10,000.  And let me tell you if who haven’t witnessed it, this one’s for real.  The excitement for Palin was heavy in the air, but more importantly, it was outweighed by the excitement for McCain.

I’ve been to previous McCain rallies and can tell you, this is something new.  The wind has shifted.  I’ve neither seen nor heard of this much excitement for anything GOP since CPAC, especially anything surrounding McCain.  And I can tell you, McCain feels it too.  He’s got the fire in his belly, his stump speeches are crisp and clear, he’s hitting his stride.  The time is now.