YORK, Pa. -- Anna Marie Kraft hasn't always been a Republican.

The retired nurse, who is a Shadyside native, left the Democratic party four years ago and says she "definitely knows" that U.S. Sen. John McCain is her choice for the next president.

"I think he's very much on the ball," said Ms. Kraft, who is in her 80s. "He'll make a very good president."

Ms. Kraft, who now lives in Harrisburg, waited in line outside the York Expo Center yesterday to see the Arizona senator at one of his "town hall meetings." She cited Mr. McCain's military service and experience in foreign policy matters as key reasons why she supports him over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumed Democratic nominee.

Ms. Kraft was not alone in looking at experience to help her decide which candidate to support.

Tom A. Hawk, a member Lebanon County Republican Committee, said he's going to "work his tail off" to help Mr. McCain win the election in November.

Mr. Hawk, who joked that his Native American heritage makes his name all the more fitting, said Mr. McCain's time as a prisoner-of-war, his military and Congressional service make him a sound choice to lead the nation.

"Obama hasn't had the time to develop his experience," Mr. Hawk said. Mr. McCain "has shown he has done something for his country."

While many younger voters flock to Mr. Obama, Mary Lutz, a York College senior, says she is "strongly against" Mr. Obama, citing his relative newness in national politics. She and her brother, Jesse Lutz, a York College freshman, were here to support Mr. McCain.

"Obama makes me a little nervous," said Ms. Lutz. "It's not worth the risk." She added that while Mr. Obama may be a charismatic speaker, that's not enough to sway her opinion.

Addressing a crowd of several thousand enthusiastic backers, Mr. McCain spoke about America's need for energy independence and urged his fellow congressmen to come back from their summer vacation and get to work in Washington.

And he strongly disagreed with critics who say it's impossible to reduce or eliminate American dependence on foreign fuels.

"America is a country that has met and overcome every obstacle we've faced," he said.

Questions from the audience ranged from technology in elementary school classrooms and veterans' benefits to his planned time frame for withdrawal from Iraq.

"In the next four years we will be largely out of Iraq because we will have won," Mr. McCain said. "We live in a dangerous world, but I've been in wars. I know how to win wars. I hate war. No one hates war more than veterans."

Mr. McCain still faces an uphill battle to win Pennsylvania. Poll results consistently put him about 8 points behind Mr. Obama.

But David Smith of New Oxford, Adams County, is still optimistic.

Mr. McCain "absolutely" can win this state, asserted Mr. Smith. "Pennsylvania has been a swing state for a number of years. ... There's a significant part of the Democratic base in this area this is not going to vote for Obama."

Mr. Smith said some Democrats who supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are still hurting from her primary election defeat and may not support Mr. Obama.

Mr. McCain's age, 72 on Aug. 29, has been a source of concern in some quarters, but many of his supporters are not worried.

"His age is not a factor for me," said Mike Braunstein, a veterinarian from Lewistown. "If he's healthy, I'm happy with that."