McCain to visit Sturgis motorcycle rally

By The Associated Press | Monday, August 04, 2008

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate John McCain hopes to enhance his appeal to blue-collar voters and those in the Northern Plains with a visit to a giant motorcycle rally in South Dakota.

   The Arizona senator will be stumping for votes Monday at what amounts to an annual motorcyclists' Woodstock in Sturgis, S.D. The event, billed as the largest rally of its kind in the world, is known as the ``Buffalo Chip.'' It features nine nights of entertainment, with bands including Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd and REO Speedwagon. McCain will speak about dinnertime.

   Then to underscore his call for expanded nuclear power in the United States, McCain will tour a nuclear power plant in the battleground state of Michigan on Tuesday.

   That trip comes a day after Democratic rival Barack Obama lays out his energy vision in a speech, also being delivered in Michigan.

   A recent Detroit News poll showed energy among the top issues confronting Michiganders, as well as support for McCain's call for 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030.

   This is the final week for McCain and Obama to compete for the public spotlight without having to share it with the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

   Before he heads to South Dakota, McCain starts his week with a visit to the National Label Co. in Lafayette Hill, Pa., for a tour and small business round-table discussion.

   On Tuesday, the Arizona senator will visit the Enrico Fermi nuclear power plant in Newport, Mich.