Approximately 2,500 gathered Oct. 19 at New Town in St. Charles to see presidential candidate John McCain.

Starting at around 6:30 a.m., buses shuttled people from Mueller Soccer Park to the 9 a.m. event.

Katie Hughes was among them.

John McCain! John McCain!

Wearing an apple-red business suit with a tight brunette up do, this Sarah Palin look-a-like stood out in the crowd.

“I’m here to be myself and encourage people to vote,” she said, smiling.

“We spend more money on education than any other nation in the world,” Congressman Todd Akin said into the microphone. “And we have the worst results!”

She also smiled as a small line of people formed to take pictures with her. Her welcoming blue-green eyes and bright smile would make anyone think she’s there for good.

“We have two candidates,” Sen. Kit Bond said. “A show horse and a work horse.”

However, Hughes, in her mid-20s, was under the watchful eyes of security and rally volunteers throughout the entire event. Volunteers – sporting their bright yellow t-shirts – continuously flocked around her general locale, claiming she was “chanting strange things.”

After stepping out to greet the crowd, the audience chanted for McCain.

John McCain! John McCain!

Hughes was silent. She never did chant his name.

“I’m not necessarily voting for McCain,” Hughes admitted with a smug look as her multiple ear piercings glistened in the sunlight. “I’d rather not say who I’m voting for.”

“Joe the Biden has a lot to say, and if you say enough you’re gonna be right sometimes,” McCain said.

“And [Palin]’s beautiful,” Hughes said. “But I think nothing of her politically.”

“Senator Obama is more interested in sharing your piece of the pie, not growing the pie!”

At 10:30 a.m., after more pictures, more smiles, and more “strange chants,” Hughes disappears into the colossal mob of people waiting to get onto the buses to leave.