Sen. John McCain held a town-hall style meeting in Racine today. The Memorial Hall event attracted both anti-McCain protesters and supporters. This was a breaking news blog we updated throughout the day.

1:52 p.m. - Two men in wheelchairs pulled themselves in front of the candidate's campaign bus as he tried to leave Memorial Hall.

The men were both older while men with disabilities. The bus stopped and Secret Service and Racine police moved the men and separated them for questioning. The men were let go a few minutes later.

Jerry Hershberger, 62 of Caledonia, saw the event from a second floor window of the Racine Public Library.

"It was a pretty gutsy move," he said. "I respect their courage."

Hershberger said it reminded him of the lone man standing in front of tanks in China's Tiananmen Square.

He said Secret Service and police handled the situation very professionally and quickly.

1:17 p.m. - McCain walked right up to people, offering his own microphone for questions at times. He looked people in the eye and responded directly to them when answering questions. At one time, about 20 people had hands raised and were waiting to answer a question. Throughout the town hall meeting, he walked around a central area of the hall. He did not speak at a podium or on a stage, but stood right in the center of attendees.

McCain also joked with the audience. When a microphone did not work, he quipped, "that microphone is brought to you by the Democratic National Committee."

A woman seated in the bleachers from Lake County in Ill. had a young girl with her ask, "how are you going to combat poverty in our economic recession?"

McCain responded with a several step plan that included getting spending under control, focusing on energy independence and making health care affordable and available for every American.

"We need to sit down and address it as Americans, not Republicans and Democrats," he said.

McCain ended the meeting at 1:06 p.m. as Van Halen's song "Right Now" played throughout Memorial Hall.

1:10 p.m. - A woman in the audience asked a question about McCain's campaign.

"Earlier you made comments about mudslinging and how you didn't want to do that," she said. The woman said she saw a commercial yesterday comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

"It seems you may have flip-flopped on what you said earlier," the woman said. A thank you rang out from the crowd.

In response, McCain said, "what we are talking about here is substance and not style. Who has an agenda for the future of America? These campaigns are tough but I'm proud of the campaign we have run. We're proud of that commercial."

But he did not seem to address the issue of flip flopping.

In the next question, an 18-year-old girl spoke.

"Obama terrifies me," she began to the sound of loud cheering. "Don't let him get away with a single shot. Call him on everything. We need you."

The next woman to speak was near tears as she talked about her country and asked McCain how his mother is doing.

A young man asked about financial aid. He will be starting at Georgetown University in the fall and is worried about loans.

"We need to encourage young Americans to serve their country and give them incentives," McCain answered. He spoke of benefits for those in Teach for America, the Peace Corps. and volunteer organizations including the military.

"Student loans must be more available with priority on mathematics, sciences and other very needed specialties," McCain said. "It's vital we do so so that people like you are not saddled with a burden it takes them years and years to pay off."

1 p.m. - One woman asked a question about his support of Christian schools.

"I support all choices, whether they are faith based," McCain said. "The civil rights issue of the 21st century in America is education. It all comes down to choice and competition."

McCain said he favors charter schools, vouchers and home schooling, but that Obama opposes charter schools and vouchers.

"The point is we have to reward good teachers and give bad teachers another line of work. We have to reward good teachers," McCain said. "It's not so much that charter schools are that much better, but they provide competition that increases the level of excellence in every school.. I want every family in America to have the same choice Cindy and I had with our kids - to send their children to the school of their choice.

12:55 p.m. - At about 12:25 p.m., McCain began the question and answer portion of the town hall meeting. He asked anyone in attendance to raise their hand to ask a question.

One young man raised his hand near the beginning of the question and answer session.

"I don't have question but I just wanted to tell my friends I talked to the next president of the United States," said a young man in the audience.

McCain told him he was what this campaign is about. He said he will not leave a broken Social Security system or debts with the young man's generation.

One man in the balcony asked McCain about religion. McCain responded by saying he believed in an America founded as Judeo-Christian. The man asked McCain to answer his question better and the audience yelled for him to get off the mike. Audience members cheered when a volunteer finally took it from him. The man continued to yell from the balcony and others in attendance yelled for him to sit down, which he finally did.

In a response to a question on the cap and trade system, McCain spoke about energy and going green.

"Energy dependence on foreign oil and reducing costs are directly related to green technologies," he said. He went on to say he saw a new green automobile by General Motors and supports a tax credit for Americans that buy such a vehicle.

McCain said green technologies will also create lots of new jobs.

12:45 p.m. - McCain spoke extensively about his opponent Barack Obama.

"On issues big and small what he says and what he does are often two different things," he said, receiving great applause. "He doesn't seem to understand that the policies he offers would make our problems much worse and not better. His solution is to simply make government bigger and raise your taxes to pay for it. We've been doing that for years and it hasn't worked.

"The bottom line is that Senator Obama's words, for all their eloquence and passion, don't mean that much. People will say anything to get elected."

McCain promised to veto every pork barrel bill that comes across his desk and spoke against tax increases. In reference to Obama, McCain said "anything you can tax, he wants to tax more. I am opposed to raising taxes including social security taxes. Have no doubt about it."

Concerning Iraq, McCain denounced Obama's policy of unconditional withdrawal "regardless of facts on the ground.

"I'm going to end this war, but when I bring out troops home they will come home from a victory," leaving a democratic heartland in the Middle East.

12:33 p.m. - McCain opened by telling a story about how his wife Cindy adopted their 17-year-old daughter, Bridget, from an orphanage in Bangladesh.

He went on to talk about Obama requesting "a duel" with the candidate and about the veterans present. He asked all veterans to stand, and they were recognized by the crowd with great applause and a standing ovation. McCain also paid special attention to a woman in the audience.

"Debra Bartoshevich is here with her daughter and her father. Debra recently decided she would support my candidacy. It was a great act of courage since she happened to be a Democrat. Perhaps your reward will be in heaven, not here on Earth."

Bartoshevich was removed last week as a delegate for the Democratic National Committee after she violated rules by not supporting the candidate chosen by the Democratic Party.

McCain went on to talk about the type of meeting he was hosting today.

"Why don't we just sit down together and have a discussion. It has to include you and your hopes and your dreams and your aspirations," McCain said.

McCain spoke about the Iraq war and maintaining U.S. involvement. He said this month the U.S. may see the lowest casualties since the war began.

"Every life is precious but it is a fact that this surge is succeeding. I would much rather lose a political campaign than lose a war," he said.

McCain also mentioned his stand against out of control spending, corruption and giveaways to big oil. He said he spoke against his party on some of these issues.

12:13 p.m. - McCain's town hall meeting began promptly at noon as attendees stood, whistling and cheering with cameras held over their heads.

County Executive Bill McReynolds spoke first, introducing and welcoming "the next president and first lady of the United States."

McReynolds said the 195,000 people of Racine County "honor country, community and most of all family. And I know that both of you do too."

McReynolds spoke about what he has in common with Cindy McCain, who was also in Racine. McReynolds said he and Cindy both have a commitment to getting McCain elected and to family. He went on to introduce Cindy by talking about her qualities and involvement in national and international outreach programs.

When Cindy began speaking, she told attendees to sit and went on to thank them for coming. Dressed in a bright red suit, she introduced her husband and spoke about a recent trip to Rwanda and the women she met there who care greatly for their country.

"They're truly the most remarkable group of women I have met anywhere," she said. "Why do I tell you this? Similar to what my husband is about. He endured a great deal. He recovered, he went on. He never forgot what is most important to him and that is his country."

Cindy said her husband embodies "hope, courage, generosity, spirit and most importantly heart."

McCain entered the hall to loud cheers at 12:08 p.m.

11:55 a.m. - Fifteen minutes before McCain was scheduled to begin the town hall meeting, half of the balcony in Memorial Hall remained empty and there was no longer a line outside.

A volunteer for McCain said the hall holds 1,200 people. About 950 people were in attendance at 11:45 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - As the upper balcony began to fill around 11 a.m., Sheryl McCrary and her band began playing Proud to be an American.

Clad in a white suit, McCrary, a local artist, moved on to her second song. Her four person band included a keyboardist and two guitarists. One of the guitar players wore a red and white striped flag guitar strap.

When McCrary sang God Bless America, volunteers along the building's walls sang along excitedly.

A video then began playing about McCain and his military experiences. The video opened with McCain as a young man in a hospital bed talking about his plane crash. As the video continued and McCain's name flashed across the screen, applause rang out in Memorial Hall.

The video's narrator talked about the U.S. needing a candidate with "the courage to do the difficult, to fight to survive," a candidate with "faith in God, your fathers, your friends and band of brothers." The video referred to McCain as a maverick spirit with tremendous life experience. The narrator went on to say the presidency is a "matter of the heart. The heart to have humility. The heart to never surrender."

As the video continued, it was clear the focus was McCain's experience as a prisoner of war. He was shown speaking alone and at other town hall meetings about how he was tortured and about his plane crash. Faith in God and faith in country were other recurring themes.

McCain's mother spoke on the video about her son.

"Johnny was a leader from the very beginning," she said. "I almost feel sorry for his opponents because he stands so head and shoulders above these people."

As the video ended, Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, spoke.

"I want to welcome everybody to Racine, the battle ground of the battle ground state," he said. "We have a choice between moving this country forward with real trusted, experienced leadership or the same old liberal policies of a man serving in the state senate just four years ago who never held a leadership position in the economy or national security in his lifetime."

Priebus repeatedly asked the audience who they trust in matters of family, faith, military, economy and more. The audience responded each time with a loud chant of "John McCain." Priebus got applause for mentioning the war on terror, the need for a strong commander in chief and the "biggest and greatest economy in the world."

Boos resounded for talk about Obama and his stances. After Priebus spoke, political ads for McCain played.

11:15 a.m. - Many of those waiting in line to see McCain thought there would be more people waiting.

"I really expected more people," said Charlotte Loudahl, 50 of Racine. She arrived at 8:45 a.m. expecting a huge line.

After the doors had been open for about 40 minutes, Memorial Hall remained about half empty. However, the line outside moved slowly due to security inspections.

The hall buzzed with chatter as attendees took their seats and waited.

The hall had two large projection screens displayed near the entrance and along the top of the west wall. The screens read, "Straight Talk Town Hall" and showed McCain's logo. A banner along the hall's balcony read, "Wisconsin welcomes John and Cindy McCain."

Those in attendance sat in about 15 rows of chairs facing the building's south side. Another horseshoe shaped grouping of chairs surrounded a band positioned in the center of the hall and bleacher seats held attendees on the south and west side of the building. The hall's large balcony remained empty except for about eight AARP supporters. The back of the hall was filled with press and their cameras and laptops. The hall's large eastern room remained dark and empty.

Loudahl sat in the front of the hall in the first horseshoe-shaped row of chairs, directly behind the small band.

"This year's races are so controversial," she said. "I want to weigh my options."

One of the issues most important to Loudahl was the Iraq war.

"I have a son and daughter-in-law in the Army National Guard," she said. "No mother wants to hear their son wants to go to war. We've lost too many people. It's worse than what the Vietnam War was."

10:50 a.m. - Alex Jacobson, 17 of Wind Point, came to listen to the candidate even though he will not be able to vote by the November election.

"I'm independent. I'm just here to see," said the Horlick High School senior. "I want to hear more on energy and education from both candidates. At the high school and lower level, the education system needs overall improvement."

Alex arrived at Memorial Hall at 7:45 a.m. and was one of the first 10 people in line.

"I assumed there would be a big line," he said. "I was here to see Obama speak and three hours before the line wrapped around the building."

Alex said he is excited to have the opportunity to see and hear both presidential candidates. No matter the outcome of the election, he will have seen the next president.

"It's a pretty cool thing to be a part of," he said. "I've always been interested in politics."

Further down the line, Dorothy Prechel, 68 of Franklin, came to hear McCain address the issues of older Americans.

"I'm here with AARP and to see what he has to say, to weigh my options," she said. "I really haven't made up my mind yet."

Prechel wore a red T-shirt with the words "divided we fall," a slogan of AARP that expresses the organizations desire to unite government officials.

"We're trying to get both sides of the aisle to work together on social security, health care and financial security," she said.

Around the block in line, Bea Olsen stood out in her sequined and beaded patriotic hat. The hat's brim had red and white sequined stripes and the hat's top was blue sequins with white stars.

"I can't use it often," she said of the hat. "But whenever you do, you just feel like a true American."

Olsen is a McCain supporter because she usually votes for Republicans after researching the candidates.

"The Democrats always seem to be giving things away. It seems you should earn things," she said speaking about welfare and other "hand out" programs.

Renee Boyle, 38 of Twin Lakes, came to Memorial Hall around 9 a.m. with her two daughters, 10-year-old Rebecca and 6-year-old Mckinley. As the family waited in line near the doors, Rebecca stood ready with her digital camera to take plenty of pictures. Boyle said she came today just to hear what McCain has to say.

"I want to make an informed decision," she said. "I thought it would be a good educational experience for the girls to see how the political system works."

Boyle said the most important issues to her include the economy, which McCain is expected to address, and Christian religious freedom.

10:10 a.m. - As more people got in line to hear McCain, the protesters grew louder.

"Shame on McCain," could be heard a block away. Groups protesting the candidate and his stances on issues include the AFL CIO, the Sierra Club, immigration group Voces de la Frontera, One Wisconsin Now and supporters of Obama.

Protesters from One Wisconsin Now wore McCain and President Bush masks. The duo hugged each other and carried signs reading "John McSame." The duo also carried a large stamp to stamp out labor workers and reformers.

Rosemary Wehnes, 58 of Wauwatosa, came to Racine to protest McCain's energy policy and stand on alternative fuels.

"I believe Barack Obama's plan is better," she said. "He puts more emphasis on energy conservation and clean energy solutions."

Next to Wehnes stood about five people supporting Obama sporting purple and yellow Obama T-shirts, bags and signs. Jacqueline Berry, 51 of Milwaukee, was with the group to fight for healthcare reform.

"I have asthma and the meds I'm on cost a lot," she said. "And a lot of people don't have insurance."

More than 20 protesters from Voces de la Frontera stood in front of Memorial Hall and on the median of Sixth Street near the Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain. Juan Ruiz, 54 of Racine, works for the group and was protesting in favor of immigration reform. He said the group does not support a specific candidate but supports reform of immigration policies, especially to allow immigrants to receive drivers licenses.

10 a.m. - People began lining up at 6:30 a.m. to hear Republican presidential candidate John McCain speak at Memorial Hall. By 9:30 a.m., the line stretched about a block and protesters were camped out in front of the building.

Those waiting to hear McCain speak at noon included supporters of the candidates and undecided voters looking for more information.

Chris Lucksted, 38 of Mount Pleasant, was first in line. Lucksted, a sheet metal worker, is a conservative and said while he is not an avid McCain supporter, he finds the Republican nominee the "lesser of two evils." He wants to hear McCain address the issues he cares about - taxes and energy.

"We need more oil," Lucksted said. "We need to start building more refineries. We've got pockets of oil. Why don't we use them?"

Standing next to Lucksted was Carolyn Vinson, 48, of Racine. She arrived early at 7:30 a.m. to hear McCain speak and to be a part of history, she said.

"I wanted to make sure I got in. I might not get a chance to see him again," she said. "I'm here just to see what he has to talk about. We need to bring jobs back to the U.S., to Racine. Crime is so high here. We need to keep the kids working, their minds off of gangs."

Vinson said she is a Democrat and she also saw Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speak at Memorial Hall in February. One of the most important issues to Vinson is the war in Iraq.

"We need to bring the Iraq war to an end. I believe Senator Obama will be working on that," she said. "My nephew has been in Iraq and I thank God for sparing his life."

But others like Lucksted hope McCain takes office and can finish the war in Iraq.

"McCain is the only one of the candidates that actually wants to win the war instead of (with)drawing troops," he said. "We need to see it through to have a democracy in the Middle East. We're helping spread freedom and democracy and letting terrorists know they will be chased down."

McCain is not expected to talk about the war in Iraq. The candidate will discuss the economy and energy. However, the talk is a town hall meeting, so those in attendance will have the opportunity to ask their own questions.

9:40 a.m. - Protesters wearing Bush and McCain masks while dancing to banjo music were part of a colorful, busy scene at Memorial Hall Thursday.

Sen. John McCain is scheduled to hold a town-hall style meeting today at noon. The Memorial Hall event has attracted dozens of anti-McCain protesters, in addition to a line of people interested in attending. With admission granted on a first-come, first-served basis, the first few people had arrived by 7:30 a.m.

At least a couple dozen protestors stood near Memorial Hall, near news trucks and a smattering of police officers, steps away from the growing line of several dozen people waiting to see the presumptive Republican nominee.