McCain, Palin draw 12,000 in Colo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Republican running mates John McCain and Sarah Palin drew a crowd estimated at 12,000 Saturday to a rally in Colorado Springs.

The city is a major center of U.S. Christian organizations, and a central element of the Republican campaign to win Colorado in the November election, Politico reported.

Focus on the Family and Young Life are headquartered there, and there is a strong Christian presence at nearby Fort Carson and the United States Air Force Academy.

Crowd response to joint appearances by McCain and Palin have been so enthusiastic, the campaign has abandoned a plan to have the candidates split up after an appearance Saturday night in New Mexico, Politico said. Instead, McCain and Palin will continue to campaign together for a few more days.

Addressing the crowd in Colorado Springs, Palin -- as she had in an appearance Friday -- repeated some lines form her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

"There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you and that man is John McCain," she said.

McCain repeated a charge that his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, has no record of crossing party lines -- a claim the Obama campaign has refuted.

Palin earlier promised a McCain administration would govern with a non-partisan spirit in the best interests of the entire nation.

"No one expects us to agree on everything. But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and a servant's heart. And I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States," she said.