Record crowd snaps up thousands of tickets for Sarah Palin event

Thousands of people formed a line circling the pavilion at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square on Friday morning, each waiting to secure a ticket to attend a rally for GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Rich Cole, president of The Villages Republican Club, said that approximately 16,000 tickets were handed out Friday.

Cole said that the Palin rally will rival any political event that The Villages has seen.

Cole said McCain's pick of Palin to be his running mate has done wonders for the Republican Party.

"It has really energized the base; as the Republican Club president, I am thrilled with the pick," Cole said.

Villagers Joan Andre and Judy Martin also applauded the Palin choice.

Read More