A Tale of Two Campaigns: New Mexico Style

From this morning's Albuquerque Journal:

John McCain:

The Arizona Republican stood under a giant American flag on Mesilla's historic plaza, telling a crowd of about 3,000 people under a blazing autumn sun that he understands water, land, energy and American Indian issues better than his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
"Sen. Obama has never been south of the border," McCain said, triggering a smattering of jeers from his supporters. "He doesn't know these issues — I do. And I'm proud to be from the West."
McCain, accompanied by his wife, Cindy, was greeted by 1,000 to 1,500 people earlier Saturday in Albuquerque, where he delivered a feisty, 17-minute speech at the Spanish Village on the state fairgrounds.

Barack Obama:

"New Mexico: In 10 days, in just 10 days, you have the chance to elect the next president. You'll have the chance to bring the change we need to Washington," the front-running Democratic presidential candidate told an estimated 45,000-plus supporters who filled floodlit Johnson Field at the University of New Mexico and spilled across the campus and onto surrounding streets.

In two campaign stops in New Mexico John McCain got ten percent of the crowd Barack Obama got in his one campaign stop. The stark difference shown by supporters of the two campaigns is fascinating. People willing to stand in line for hours to see a candidate will probably be willing to stand in line to cast a vote for that same candidate.

Know hope.