In Pensacola, Palin rocks the house (update with photo gallery)

PENSACOLA - She entered the Pensacola Civic Center to chants of "Sarah, Sarah!" and was swamped by autograph-seekers on the way out.

Sarah Palin isn't your run-of-the-mill politician. She's a bona fide rock star.

"They have an enthusiasm and belief in Governor Palin unlike any political figure I've ever seen," said U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, describing a crowd that stood in pouring rain for hours to see the vice presidential candidate.

"You probably have to go back to Ronald Reagan to find a politician able to fan this kind of excitement," Miller said.

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For a photo gallery from the event, click here.

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Palin, Alaska's chief executive and the running mate of Republican John McCain, spoke to 10,000 very vocal fans Tuesday in Pensacola.

She was cheered for her praise of McCain and equally cheered for her criticism of his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama.

"Our ticket represents change. We don't just talk about change," Palin said. "We're the only ones in this race with a proven record of making change happen."

Then she recounted for the crowd last week's debate between herself and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

"For a campaign that talks a lot about the future, our opponents' sure talk a lot about the past and point fingers," Palin said. "We're looking forward toward the future because that's where you find solutions."

Palin's stop in Pensacola came at a time when Obama has taken a lead in most polls and has pushed slightly ahead in the state of Florida. Those who preceded the governor at the podium tried to drive home the importance of each Republican vote.

"She came about as far as she could come to help us win this election," said Gov. Charlie Crist, who introduced Palin. "We have to do all we can to put Florida in the win column."

Fort Walton Beach resident Ray Angerman said he'd traveled to Pensacola and stood out in the rain to show his fellow Republicans he still believes the party can win Nov. 4.

"The cause is not lost. It's not over yet. Don't get discouraged," he said. "People need to step it up a notch."

Palin said a McCain administration would end corruption and abuse of power in Washington. And she said the "maverick" Arizona senator would provide education reform "to give every child in America a chance and every parent a choice."

A McCain-Palin ticket would find a way to balance the federal budget and give more Americans access to health care, Palin promised. It would also keep its promises to senior citizens.

"John McCain has always kept his promises to Americans and as president he will keep his promise to senior citizens," Palin said.

Speaking over occasional random shouts of "We love you, Sarah," Palin drew her greatest applause when she brought up veterans and warfare.

"John McCain is the only one in this race who is talking about our wars, and unlike our opponent, he isn't afraid to use the word victory," Palin said as the crowd in this military community roared.

She criticized Obama's expressed desire to pull American troops out of Iraq.

"Just once I wish he would say he wants America to win," she said.

Palin didn't hesitate to wade in with the negative. She brought up Obama's relationship to Bill Ayers, who she termed "an unrepentant urban terrorist."

Palin implied that Obama's inability to recall his exact relationship with Ayers is an oft repeated character flaw.

"He didn't know he launched his political career in the living room of a domestic terrorist?" she asked derisively. "What's next? Will he claim his ticket doesn't define higher taxes as unpatriotic, or that he didn't know higher taxes on business will cost jobs?"

"We require good judgment from our next president, and John McCain has it and Barack Obama doesn't," Palin said.

Palin concluded her speech by invoking the nearly sainted name of Reagan, and his famous depiction of the United States as "that shining city on a hill."

"America is not the problem," Palin declared, using Reagan's words. "America is the solution."

The crowd that filed out of the civic center was as enthusiastic, if slightly less soggy, than when it had entered several hours before. Palin even hung around for a short time after the event to press the flesh and sign autographs.

Gulf Breeze resident Joe Roberts, who has sought political office as both a Democrat and a Republican, got his Palin signature.

Roberts said Palin is the candidate he had always professed to be.

"I think Sarah Palin is about as close as we're going to get to a real person," he said. "She's not oriented with the downtown Washington crowd, and that's a refreshing change we need."