Read the following paragraph and answer the question. Give ONLY the answer, no other words or explanation.

For example:

Answer: <most likely answer, as short as possible>.

Paragraph: I went to the Biden / Obama rally in Fredericksburg last night , and thank goodness I knew where to find a hidden parking spot behind the local SPCA . There were a few people with McCain signs on the corners around the University , but after a while they disappeared because there was literally no place on the sidewalks left for them to stand . We were rained on intermittently , but ... so what .

Question: What political affiliation did the people holding signs behind the rally have ?
They were republicans .
They were holding McCain signs.