By Michael D. Shear
The Washington Post
STURGIS, S.D. -- If there was any question whether this is John McCain country, that doubt ended Monday as thousands of motorcycle riders repeatedly revved their Harleys upon his arrival here, creating a massive roar of approval and a cloud of exhaust fumes.
"This is my first time here," McCain told the crowd of about 20,000 at the Sturgis Rally, an annual motorcycle event in the western part of the state. "But I recognize that sound. It's the sound of freedom."
McCain told the group of leather-clad, bandana-wearing, long-haired riders that his rival, Barack Obama had recently spoken to 200,000 people in Berlin.
"I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day. Any day," he said, prompting another round of engines revving.
McCain's campaign traveled 90 minutes from Rapid City for the five-minute appearance in front of a friendly crowd filled with many military veterans. He called them the "heartland of America."
The Republican senator thanked the crowd for their service to the country and urged them not to be "on the road" on Nov. 4. "It will be a good sign on Election Day if there are a lot of bikes parked outside the polling places of America," he declared.
McCain continued to mock Obama's energy policies, telling the crowd, "My opponent doesn't want to drill. He doesn't want nuclear power. He wants to inflate your tires."
The comment was a jab at Obama's statement that people should inflate their tires properly to get better gas mileage.
The Sturgis Rally attracts tens of thousands of motorcycle riders from around the country. McCain fired up the crowd by asking whether anyone wanted to continue paying $4 per gallon of gas, sparking an ironic roar from the motorcycle engines and another cloud of exhaust fumes.
In introducing his wife, McCain noted the ongoing beauty pageant at the event and said that he had "encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her, with a little luck, she could be the only person ever to serve as first lady and Miss Buffalo Chip."