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ELON — The crowd of about 2,000 that gathered to hear vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin filled Latham Park at Elon University on Thursday. When the gates opened at noon, the line already stretched for blocks through the campus. But the candidate’s supporters said it was worth the wait.

Ruby Fallon of High Point said the Alaska governor was what drew her to Sen. John McCain’s campaign. Fallon took her 8- and 10-year-old daughters with her Thursday because she wanted them to see the woman she believes will be the first female vice president.

“This is going to be an amazing election, and I want them to be able to say that they were here when McCain and Palin changed this country,” said Fallon, 30.

Reid Swanson, 19, also said she would be glad to be part of history.

“This is my first election and I get to cast my ballot for a woman,” Swanson said. “I think she really speaks to women my age and shows us that anything is possible.”

As temperatures climbed into the 80s, people in the crowd fanned themselves with towels emblazoned with the faces of the candidates, bought buttons reading “Hottest VP, coolest state” and compared campaign T-shirts.

Ron Goodchild of West Jefferson wore one that read: “Vote for the Man with the Lipstick Wearing Pitbull.”

He said he admires Palin and the way she hasn’t tried to soften her conservative views.

“There is only one choice in this election for people who want this country to stand for marriage and for unborn children,” Goodchild said. “The values this country was built on.”

Many in the crowd agreed, saying Palin’s pro-life stance was more important than any other factor.

Willa Scott of Jamestown said that’s why she is a proud Palin supporter — though many assume that as a black woman, she’ll vote for Sen. Barack Obama.

“Black conservatives get forgotten about,” said Scott, 48. “Me and my husband are church people, and we’re not going to vote for Obama just because he’s black. He has to share our values.”

Country star Hank Williams Jr. warmed up the crowd before Palin arrived about 3 p.m.

Country standards such as Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” and the theme to the “Dukes of Hazzard” went over well with the crowd, as did versions of his own hit songs he altered for the occasion.

Screams and cheers greeted Palin upon arrival, but her speech was briefly interrupted when two groups of protesters were removed for chanting “Obama” and shouting in disagreement with her speech.

Police said no one was charged and the protesters were removed.

Palin fans said the incident didn’t ruin the day for them.

“That is just more of what she’s had to put up with this whole campaign,” said Lee Winston, 40. “But we love her because she always rises above it. That’s why she’s going to be a great vice president.”

Contact Joe Killian at 883-4422, Ext. 228, or joe.killian@news-record.com