From KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, the first campaign trail photo we’ve seen of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin posing with someone who has Down syndrome. It was taken a week ago Saturday in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Kurt Kondrich told KDKA that people on the campaign bus apparently spotted daughter Chloe blowing kisses at the bus. Mom Margie Kondrich was holding up a sign that said “We (Heart) Kids With Down Syndrome.”

After the candidates delivered their remarks, a Secret Service agent approached the Kondrich family and ushered them into an inner circle near the bus where the McCains and Palins were waiting.

“I wanted to let Sarah know that I was also a mother with a child with Down Syndrome and that I supported her and that I understand what she has gone through,” Margie said.

… “They just came up as warm as could be and said ‘Hi’ and they thanked us for coming,” Kurt said.

Gov. Palin asked if she could hold Chloe. Meantime, Sen. McCain got to know Nolan, Chloe’s big brother.

(KDKA photo. L-R: Cindy McCain, Curt Kondrich, daughter Chloe, Sarah Palin. TV report video shows the governor holding Chloe. Later, Chloe is seen happily swinging in a swing.)

Editor’s note: Readers, if you see any photos of people with Down syndrome with Gov. Palin — or with Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain or Sen. Biden — please send them along. We’d like to publish them. Send your photos to patricia@patriciaebauer.com, and let us know how we can contact you.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Campaign 2008, families, politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.