KTKA

When John McCain picked Sarah Palin as a running mate, Jan Peterson got excited.

"That's when I actually went and got the signs," Peterson said.

She put three campaign signs in her yard supporting the running mates, but last week all three disappeared.

"I just kind of put it out of my mind until this morning," Peterson said. "My husband called and said, 'I think you've got one of your signs back.'"

Her sign was back, but it now had an unwelcome addition.

Written over the original white lettering in black ink, the sign reads "Paris Hilton would be better than McCain" on one side. The opposite side has the words "Black Power" written over it with a cartoon fist.

Police say it's not uncommon for campaign signs to be stolen around this time of year, but say getting a stolen sign back is very strange.

Peterson says she now feels threatened.

"What are they gonna do now?" Peterson asked of the vandals. "Are they gonna deface something else? I'm afraid to leave my car in the driveway."

Freedom of speech and expression are rights guaranteed in the Constitution, but Peterson says this simple act of vandalism has taken that right from her.

"It's too bad that I can't have my sign out," Peterson said. "Everybody should be able to have whatever sign they want without somebody stealing them or defacing them."

Peterson has already gotten another McCain-Palin sign to replace the others she lost, but she isn't sure if she will put it up.

She says this is the first year she has ever put signs up in support of a presidential candidate.