Times-Union's blog

Republican presidential candidate John McCain talked about Jacksonville's murder problem, preserving the St. Johns River and boosting the nation's economy during an interview on his Straight Talk Express campaign bus.

9:17 a.m. — John McCain takes to the stage at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, greeting thousands of supporters.

The McCain motorcade is loading up and preparing to head to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The line of vehicles is carrying teams of media, security and the Arizona senator's staffers.

The McCain camp is preparing to head to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena for today's rally. News reporters are in the lobby of the Omni Hotel downtown awaiting a security screening before the Arizona senator's event, the first stop in a two-day florida tour.

The Times-Union has gotten word that local Democrats, upset about a Republican mailer, plan to protest this morning outside Jacksonville's GOP headquarters and at Veterans Memorial Arena, where presidential candidate John McCain is scheduled to appear at a rally. 

Times-Union reporter Charlie Patton is at the John McCain rally: 6:58 a.m.: It's not quite 7 a.m. and already one side of the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is beginning to fill for the John McCain rally.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain arrived in Jacksonville this evening after spending part of the day at a NASCAR race in New Hampshire.The Arizona senator landed at Jacksonville International Airport around 6:20 p.m. before boarding his Straight Talk Express campaign bus for a 30-minute ride downtown.