BANGOR – Sarah Palin brought the Republican quest for Maine’s four electoral votes to a frenzied crowd Thursday, rocking a packed hangar at Bangor International Airport in a rally loaded with plain talk and patriotism.

As chants of “Sarah! Sarah!” rained onto her shoulders, the Alaska governor took aim at Democrat Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden. She also detailed the reforms that she and GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain would try to bring to Washington, and evoked the name of a revered Republican.

“What John and I believe in is what Ronald Reagan believed in,” said Palin, McCain’s surprise choice for vice president two months ago. “We believe in the forward movement of freedom and not in the constant expansion of government.”

Palin told the crowd that she and McCain have the experience and vision to solve the nation’s economic problems, improve access to higher education and make health care affordable, while eliminating the $10 trillion budget deficit by the end of their first term.

“We have walked the walk, we haven’t just talked the talk,” she said.

Thunderous cheers and applause shook the hangar repeatedly during Palin’s speech, which had thousands of supporters lining up along airport access roads for two hours before her plane touched down.

Republican campaign officials, who moved the event from a smaller hangar to accommodate the great amount of interest, estimated that the crowd reached 6,500 at its peak.

Though Palin’s words about the ticket’s position on the issues drew repeated applause, many in the crowd were focused on her personality and presence.

“I have a lot of faith in Sarah,” said Al Sandelli of Bucksport. “She’s more like one of us than the Washington crew. She can relate to the people.”

Sandi Ephrussi of Harmony called Palin a reformer and a maverick, with fresh and innovative ideas.

“She has spunk,” Ephrussi said.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, introduced Palin, describing her and McCain as a “dream team” for reform.

“They are going to fight for you,” she said. “You can count on it.”

Maine’s other U.S. senator, Republican Susan Collins, did not attend the rally.

Palin’s appearance came the morning after the final presidential debate between McCain and Obama, and she sprinkled her talk with references to that event.

Palin repeated McCain’s suggestion that Obama should have run against President George W. Bush four years ago, instead of mounting repeated attacks on Bush’s policies now.

“They look to the past because that’s where you find blame,” Palin said of the Democratic ticket. “We are looking to you and the future because that’s where you find solutions.”

She also criticized Obama for not condemning a liberal group known as ACORN – the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now – which is under investigation in several states for allegations of voter fraud.

“In this election, it’s a choice between a candidate who won’t disavow a group committing voter fraud, and a leader who won’t tolerate voter fraud,” Palin said.

ACORN has denied widespread fraud but acknowledged that some of its workers might have submitted duplicate registrations or falsified information to increase their earning.

In the debate Wednesday night, Obama said he has no significant ties to the group.

Palin was quick to identify herself with working-class values and concerns, noting that Alaska and Maine have a lot in common as rural states.

“I feel like I am at home because I see the Carhartts and the steel-toed boots, and I see mixed in there with the suits and ties the NRA hats,” she said, referring to the popular work-clothing manufacturer and the National Rifle Association.

Democrats made their presence felt outside the rally, posting scores of Obama supporters on airport entrance roads who chanted and waved signs.

The party also held an afternoon news conference to respond to Palin’s appearance, with remarks by U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud of northern Maine’s 2nd Congressional District and by Hillary Roberts, a community organizer in the Bangor area.

“The people living in Piscataquis County or right here in Bangor or anywhere else in Maine are not going to vote for McCain and Palin based on a profile of snowmobiling or hunting,” she said. “They are going to go to the polls Nov. 4 and vote for the person with the best plans to help them buy heating oil, find a job, take out a college loan or retire on time.”

Palin’s visit coincided with a Republican National Committee decision to halt its presidential advertising in Maine and devote its attention to states where traditional Republican strength is eroding.

However, McCain is still running his own ads on Maine television stations, and Palin’s visit suggests that the campaign still believes it has an opportunity here.

In Maine, Obama has the edge over McCain, 51 percent to 43 percent, according to pollster.com, an independent group that synthesizes major polling results.

State GOP officials say they believe McCain and Palin can win Maine’s four electoral votes, or at least peel off one vote from the 2nd Congressional District, which is more rural and conservative.

Under state law, the winner of the statewide popular vote gets two electoral votes, and the winner in each congressional district gets one.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

History is not on the GOP’s side in Maine. State records show that the only time its electoral votes were divided was in 1828.

Palin’s husband, Todd, visited northern Maine last weekend, with stops in Hermon, Palmyra and Presque Isle.

Sarah Palin was in New Hampshire on Wednesday, and her Bangor appearance was the last stop on an East Coast swing. She is scheduled to appear at rallies in Ohio and Indiana today .

She is the first vice-presidential candidate from a major party to visit Maine this election season.

McCain was here in July, but neither Obama nor Biden has campaigned in the state.