Only days after the Republican National Convention concluded in St. Paul, Minn., Republican presidential and vice-presidential candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin made an afternoon appearance in the Kansas City area.

Campaigning on a theme of change in suburban Lee's Summit, Mo., McCain called Missouri a "battleground state" and promised the crowd - estimated at 8,000, and thousands more than the John Knox Village pavilion could hold - that he and Palin would "drain the swamp in Washington D.C."

Palin praised the area. "You have it all in Kansas City," she said. "It's beautiful."

Pailin said she and McCain would "shake up" Washington, but reminded the crowd that Missouri was a must-win state.

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Last night, KansasLiberty.com readers Bob and Christine Matulis were in Kansas City at the President hotel with their neighbors, the Elder family, when they crossed paths with the candidates and snapped this photo.

"So here we are," wrote Christine Matulis, "with three scouts, two girls in flag dresses, four adults. Bob had a huge flag with him and three twenty-something ladies with 'McCain girls' t-shirts.

"One-half block away a motorcycle officer beeps the horn and then the motorcade comes past at the end of the block. Bob asked the officer, 'Can we go down there and wave?'

"The officer said, 'Stay where you are.'  Before we know it the motorcade is in the "alleyway" behind the hotel dead set in front of us. Wow! Good thing we stayed put."

It was a lucky spot. "There were no cameras around, no press, just two families, the young ladies and the local police.  John McCain got out of the limo and saw our exuberance and headed straight for us.  Bob is thinking they must be using a private door in our direction.  Then one by one the Senator, the Governor and the First Gentlemen of Alaska and several secret service are headed straight for us.

"We are thrilled! Although I am not sure if any us of remember who shook whose hand, there was a lot of hand shaking.  Liam  made a sign that said, "PRO-LIFE PALIN" and she commented on how she liked the sign.

"When we took the kids photo Governor Palin pulled Collin over and placed him in the right spot so he could be in the picture. McCain went to shake Bob's hand and...Palin even commented on the girls' dresses after Patricia said, 'and look at these dresses.'

"The Governor said, "I know, I know."  I do remember shaking Mr. Palin's hand and thanking him for this sacrifice.

"We are just on cloud nine. Maria said, 'I got to see Sarah Palin for real for the first time!' and at home she was running around saying, 'This is unbelievable!' She has already made Governor Palin a thank you note.

"What fun!"

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