At the monthly Walla Walla GOP meeting last Monday, active Republicans in the community discussed matters ranging from local campaigns to Sarah Palin, from toilette paper to Dino Rossi. There were jokes about the economy and even appreciative chatter on the accuracy of Tina Fey’s satire of Palin.

Local politics dominated the meeting, as many of Walla Walla’s Republican candidates were present. Each stood, describing the progress of their campaigns and beseeching the GOP for assistance.

Few of the local candidates needed much from their constituents and some are even running unopposed or against another Republican.   Eastern Washington is heavily conservative with fully 2/3 of the people with right-wing leanings. The GOP headquarters constantly needs to restock Dino Rossi and McCain/Palin signs because they are so popular with the people of Walla Walla.

But for all the conservatism in Walla Walla, only 1/4 of registered voters in the area actually vote come Election Day.   Many members at the GOP headquarters expressed unease about the political apathy in Eastern Washington. They discussed plans to motivate unregistered voters to register and hopefully vote. With Eastern Washington’s conservative leanings, more local voters equals more Republican votes.

Discussion about national politics was largely centered around Palin. One woman reminisced about people dancing in the streets of Walla Walla when McCain named her as his running mate.   Another woman told the gatherers of five men who approached her, crying tears of joy and gratitude after Palin’s acceptance speech. Many Republicans in Walla Walla even refused a McCain sign if it did not have Palin’s name on it as well.

The enthusiasm for Palin was succinctly explained by Walla Walla GOP chairman, Jim Johnson:   “The majority of Republicans are enthusiastic about Palin” because she is “more charismatic” than John McCain.   He went on to explain that he feels she was chosen as McCain’s running mate because she would be the “best received by Republicans and Democrats” than any other of the hopeful president’s options.