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It was such a contrast to the Donald Trump rally with Tshibaka and Palin in July, which drew thousands.
Palin opponents are gloating, but I don’t think the low turnout is a reflection of Palin’s popularity. The rally sponsors, because they’re a political action committee that makes independent expenditures, were prohibited from coordinating with her campaign.
Patriot Freedom PAC senior advisor Michael Alfaro says he may have made a mistake by booking a room that was too large in one of the bluest parts of the state – downtown Anchorage. Alfaro, from South Carolina, put out the word with video ads and flyers. He says Alaska “cultural factors” depressed attendance.
“Normal other communities would have turned out. It’s not on us,” he said. “Our job was to put up the venue, put up the stage, put up the American flag … If the people don’t want to show up for a candidate or candidates, that’s on them.”
Alfaro says he was called by Trump to work on the Alaska races and he's not done here. His PAC raised about $200,000 by mid-year. He says the next campaign finance report will show contributions of about $400,000.
Next up for the Patriot Freedom PAC: Light sabers. Plastic swords with Tshibaka’s name on them. Alfaro says he ordered 20,000.
It’s a riff on her name, which sounds like the Star Wars character “Chewbacca.”
“Instead of doing like a flyer, you just have a light-saber sword, you know?” he said.
The swords were held up in customs but he says they should arrive in Anchorage later this month.
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