11/04/00 2:10 p.m.
McCainiacs Rally in Columbus
The party faithful are deadly serious about winning.

By Kevin Holtsberry, freelance writer based in Ohio

he battle for control of Congress came to Ohio today in full force. In a small Veterans of Foreign Wars building outside Columbus, the GOP faithful gathered to hear Sen. John McCain speak and to get fired up for that final push towards Election Day.

The feeling in the crowd was nervous excitement and a kind of cautious optimism. With control of Congress and the White House within their grasp, Republicans are intent on getting voters out to the polls on Tuesday. While working tirelessly at rallies like this one, at phone banks, and on "lit drops," they seem to be looking over their shoulders wondering if they can truly pull it off. Accordingly, today was not about ideology or issues but about getting out the vote and retaining control of Congress.

Besides McCain, the podium included Sen. Mike DeWine, congressmen Lindsey Graham, and National Congressional Campaign Committee chair Tom Davis. Speaker after speaker emphasized integrity, experience, and patriotism. This election is about the erasing the pain of the Clinton years and preventing a Speaker Gephardt. McCain was his usual gregarious and self-deprecating self, but the seriousness in his voice came through as he talked about the need for reform of the tax code, Social Security, and the military.

What just might make the difference in the twelfth congressional district and across the country is the hunger the GOP has this cycle. The party faithful are not just excited; they are deadly serious about winning.