ST. ALBANS, W.Va. -- Sen. John McCain made his first campaign stop in West Virginia since launching his bid for the White House -- a private event Friday at a gun shop -- as opponents and supporters waited outside.
While McCain met with invited guests and a handful of media members inside St. Albans Gun & Archery store, a crowd of about 75 gathered nearby. Many carried signs with messages like "McCain Will Bring More Pain," "Invest in Health Care Not War in Iraq" and "I sold my gun for gas."
Stew Sheridan, an out-of-work tradesman, said he came out on the cool, overcast Friday morning to "see the man who's going to get whupped by a woman."
The 42-year-old rode his bike several blocks from his home to the event because he said he can't afford gasoline.
"Bush just killed us," said Sheridan, who lamented that his family of five had to go on food stamps. He said he thinks a McCain administration would add to his troubles.
When fuel prices were lower, Sheridan said he could travel out of state to find work. Now that gasoline prices are teetering near $4 a gallon, he says even that's not an option.
Sheridan added, "If McCain gets in, there will be a revolution in this state. People aren't going to stand for it. If they keep pushing the common man, he's going to push back."
Supporters of the Arizona Republican included dentist Grant Mason who lives in Charleston and works in Beckley. He and his 5-year-old son Reese came dressed in camouflage.
The father of three said he supports McCain because of his stance on gun rights, and also because "he's not Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama."
Gas company retiree Arlie Hubbard, 71, of South Charleston, said McCain is the best candidate to protect Americans from terrorists.
"If terrorists win, nothing else matters," said Hubbard, who served six years in the Air National Guard. "The security of this country is absolutely paramount, and he's the only one with a real grasp of how serious the situation is."
Across the street from the gun shop, at Debbie & Company hair salon, owner Debbie Walls said she wished she'd had enough advance notice to bring signs supporting the presumptive GOP nominee to counteract the protesters.
Walls said she supports McCain because she's concerned about the moral decline of the nation and she prays for the troops in Iraq every day.
"I want someone who's a real leader for unity, the economy," she said.
In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1, Democratic Party leaders criticized McCain for keeping the public out of his first appearance in the Mountain State since announcing his candidacy.
"Why would a presidential candidate do that?" state Democratic Party executive director Tom Vogel asked in a news release Friday morning. "Maybe it's because of his long and consistent record of opposing meaningful programs to help West Virginians?"
The state Democratic Party opposes McCain's stance on natural disaster response and prevention programs in the state, and his health care plan.
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