A large McCain Campaign Headquarters banner will grace the storefront, along with a large sign for the Republicans favorite son, state Sen. Thomas Morahan, who is seeking another two-year term after three decades in government, from county legislator to Assembly and now the Senate.

Other candidates running in Rockland and the region will be promoted from the HQ, which will serve the Mid-Hudson Valley region.

Rockland GOP Chairman Vincent Reda, who matches Morahan in political longevity, said today that the 10 a.m. kick off will feature speeches from John McCain campaign officials, Morahan and other party dignitaries.

McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, is seeking the presidency on the Republican line against Barack Obama, the U.S. senator from Illinois running on the Democratic line. Unlike Rockland, where candidates run on multiple lines, the two major party candidates for president usually stick to their own party line.

While Labor Day is considered the traditional point when candidates put their campaigns into high gear, Reda said the Rockland GOP is starting a bit earlier because the national Republicans will be holding their convention during the traditional end of summer weekend. Reda is one of the GOP delegates from Rockland.

The national Republicans are gathering in Minnesota to annoint McCain as their candidate, a week or so after the Democrats do the same for Obama in Denver, Colo.

UPDATE:

Reda just called at 12 p.m. to say that Ed Cox, a top McCain campaign official in New York, will attend Saturday’s opening, as will the GOP chairmen of Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties. Cox also is the son-in-law of the late President Richard M. Nixon.