Crowd Control

Michael Scherer:

The McCain campaign brought all the pomp it could muster to its final rally here Friday: A Hank Williams warm up act, a fake barn backdrop, several crates of fresh apples for scenery, a "Victory in Ohio" sign that stretched at least 100 feet, a grand entrance on the Straight Talk Express, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who declared, "I only play an action hero in my movies, but John McCain is a real action hero."

But the people were missing...But the Nationwide Arena, home to the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, was hardly full. About a third of the Arena, which fits 20,000 people, was draped off. And the upper decks of the remaining area were about half empty, as were the seats behind the faux-barn stage.