Cheering Alaskans welcome home Sarah Palin

She has an 80% approval rating in Alaska ... and more than 2,000 Alaskans showed up at the airport to welcome her home after her whirlwind two weeks after being announced as John McCain's Vice Presidential running mate.

Her stand on "Drill here, drill now, pay less" is extremely popular with Alaskans.

She received the loudest bursts of applause when promising to push for drilling in this oil-rich state.

"Our state, Alaska, will be a leader in our nation's energy policy and bring us one step closer to energy independence," she told the audience, at one point straying from her prepared speech to say, "I feel like I'm preaching to the choir because you guys already know this."

The momentum continues to build.

McCain-Palin 2008