Business As Usual in McCainland

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The parking lot outside the McCain/Palin Victory ‘08 headquarters in Albuquerque was full and the office was buzzing with activity this morning just hours after McCain announced he was temporarily halting his campaign to work on the nation’s economic crisis.

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Three volunteers sat at a bank of phones in the sunlit front of the office building near Interstate-25 and Jefferson Boulevard Northeast, fielding calls and helping a elderly McCain supporter pick up yard signs and bumper stickers. “Be sure every one gets used,” said one young volunteer. “Oh, I will,” the man replied as he walked out the door with his hands full.

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In the warehouse-like rear of the building, another dozen or so people put together yard signs, pored over clipboards and grazed at a table laid out with fruit, pastries and drinks. The walls were hung with giant blue McCain signs and banners and a large TV burbled in the corner, tuned to a news channel.

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Office manager Burley Cain stood talking with an aide, but said he couldn’t answer questions about the campaign suspension and whether it was meant to trickle down to the local level. He referred all questions to regional campaign spokeswoman Ivette Barajas. “Sorry I can’t help you,” he said, then got back to work.