Daily Nebraskan

Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Convention

Media Credit: Travis Beck Ethine Barnhouse, 5, and her father Daniel celebrate during John McCain's acceptance speech Thursday evening at the Nebraska Republican Party office, 1610 N. St. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Travis Beck Wanda Kelley, left, Louise Bettenhausen, center, and Karen Watson, right, show their support for Republican presidental nominee John McCain during the final words of his speech. [Click to enlarge]

Gray-haired ladies, middle-aged men in suits and a young girl sporting a shirt labeled "little republican" - nearly 100 people stood or sat in the offices of the Nebraska Republican Party Thursday night.

All eyes were on one man as he addressed the nation.

The crowd yelled, whistled and stood in support of Sen. John McCain, Ariz., as he accepted the nomination for the Republican Party in the race for presidency.

Before the speech, Trent Fellers was looking forward to seeing a speech he said would be completely different in style from the one Sen. Barack Obama, Ill., made last week.

Fellers, president of Lancaster County Young Republicans, said he was happy so many people came together to watch and support McCain.

"It shows that Nebraska republicans are interested in this race," he said. "It kind of speaks to the energy that Sarah Palin has brought to the campaign."

Palin, current governor of Alaska and the Republican vice-presidential nominee, drew some of the loudest cheers from the Nebraskans when McCain brought attention to her.

"I think she's going to balance out the ticket well," said Sarah Schmidt, a senior accounting major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and former president of UNL College Republicans.

Cyndi Lamm, a 50-year-old Lincolnite who attended the party, agreed.

"I'm so excited and energized by his selection of Sarah Palin," she said. "She's got exactly the guts ... just what the country needs."

Lamm said she came to watch the speech because of a renewed enthusiasm for the Republican Party. She wanted to be around people who felt the same way, she said.

After hearing McCain's words, Lamm said she felt even more supportive of him than before.

"I thought it was awesome," she said. "He inspired me."

Schmidt said she thinks McCain has the experience to do the best job as the United State's new president.

Yet she added all students - no matter their choice - should get out and vote.

"I just hope they vote. It's a big election - I hope everyone votes."

jennagibson@dailynebraskan.com

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