September 7, 2008
Posted: 04:35 PM ET

From
Reporters traveling wtih Sen. Biden brought this cut-out of Sen. McCain onto the Biden campaign plane Saturday morning.
Reporters traveling wtih Sen. Biden brought this cut-out of Sen. McCain onto the Biden campaign plane Saturday morning.

WILMINGTON, Delaware (CNN) – So far, Sen. Joe Biden has declined to question opponent Sarah Palin's record, but a gag by the press corps traveling in Biden's plane gave the senator's staff an opportunity to take aim at Palin for ducking the media and being "more of the same."

A group of reporters covering the vice presidential nominee brought a cardboard cut-out of Sen. John McCain aboard Biden's plane–an irreverent reference to the Democrat's tendency to cite John McCain as "my friend" and tell voters a variation of this story he told in West Palm Beach, Fla. last week: "If John McCain picked up the phone today and said, Joe, I need you to get in a plane and fly out to Missoula, I can't tell you why, I'd get in a plane and I'd go. And I believe he'd do it for me."

Before Biden's campaign plane taxied to the runway, headed for Montana, Biden spokesman David Wade responded to the joke with a jab at Palin. "You realize you could've made history," Wade said. "If you'd found a cardboard cut-out of Governor Palin, that's the closest she would've been to taking tough questions from the national media since she was selected…Yet another way that McCain-Palin is more of the same."

The McCain camp has fired back. “This is probably a great day for Joe Biden,” Ben Porritt, a spokesman for McCain-Palin 2008, told CNN. “He’s never been shy about wanting to campaign on the same ticket as John McCain.”

Palin was the only of the four nominees not to make an appearance on a news talk show Sunday. The Alaska governor has been making a western swing with John McCain this week, and drawing crowds in the tens of thousands.

Filed under: Joe Biden • John McCain • Popular Posts • Sarah Palin


Morningstar   September 7th, 2008 2:47 pm ET

McOld hope that Palin will hide out untill she becomes the VP elected.. It sound that republican have found a female Cheney..

After 8 years old republican administration including 6 years with total control of the three branches of the government, look where our country is now. How can Americas in their right mind vote four more years for the republican? Vote for a 72 years old man who has have cancer 4 to 5 times with a VP is hiding from the press? Where is this country going? If the republican turned the Clinton administration surplus to the largest deficit ever, just imagine what the will do to the deficit in the next four years. Which countries will McCain, the man who knows how to win war will invade next? Maybe Cuba, Venezuela or Canada (both countries have a lot of oil), Iran, Russia and any other "righteous" war McCain and Palin may be inspired to send us to. Change is coming, the kinds of change that make things stay the same, and this is what McCain is bringing to us….

This man has been in Washington for 27 years, now at age 72 he will suddenly change… any believer out there?

cat007   September 7th, 2008 2:46 pm ET

What makes americans want to stay with the republicans? Anyone? Still it's a horserace. I can't believe it. Is this country screwed up or what? I guess we haven't dug a deep enough hole yet. John McCain will take this country from being a car wreck to being a train wreck. Maybe that's what it will take to change. Maybe then we can rid ourselves of this suicidal fascist conservatism. Drought has its uses, and McCain will definitely keep up the drought brought on by Bush. So vote your gut america.

Belle   September 7th, 2008 2:46 pm ET

OOPPPPSSSS….once again BIDEN puts his foot in his mouth….another news station was negotiating three days ago to get the exclusive, but CNN was so busy spreading "Nuances" like Obama does, that they lost out.

Mrs. Texas Teacher   September 7th, 2008 2:46 pm ET

Biden's constant reference does sound like a message that he would be glad to serve, if McCain gets elected. He needs to decide which side which side he is on and stop buttering his bread on both sides at the expense of his own campaign!

I'm tired of the Democrats selling their own candidate down the tubes just like Bush\Cheney has sold this country down the tubes.

Eight is enough! Obama for 2008… and the next 4 years!

Science First   September 7th, 2008 2:45 pm ET

Biden surely had MUCH more respect for McCain BEFORE he bowed to the Flat Earth Society and their backward fundamentalist ideology. McPanderer and Prophet Palin will never make office.

Jennifer from Atlanta   September 7th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

She's scared of the media because she knows they'll eat her alive. She got no substance whatsoever. She needs to go back to Alaska and live her Jerry Springer lifestyle in the sticks, not on the American stage.

COUNTRY FIRST?   September 7th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

You can run Sarah, but you can't hide. It would be wise to let her make her mistakes now and maybe take some heat now instead of waiting as it gets closer to election day. McCain you can't hide her forever- she is going to look foolish debating Joe Biden.

Independent Voter in Missouri   September 7th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

I wish Palin was qualified enough to be able to talk with the press.

She is not ready to talk about anything that matters to America. She is not qualified to talk intelligently without a speach writer about the issues.

John McCain is to old to have somebody who does not know anything runningg as his VP.

Please help me understand why this is a good idea???

Abby from Florida   September 7th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

What is Palin afraid of? Is she really ready to lead when she is not even ready for an interview with the national media (and not the Moose News at 10)? All that tough talk and claims she despised Clinton for whining during the primaries when the media was sexist. The table has turned and Palin is whining an awful lot.

Whiner, afraid of Chris Wallace, unable to defend her own record…NOT ready to lead.

barackobama4prez   September 7th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

It"s not about what you DON"T know about Palin, it"s about what you DO know. We know she:

1) supports earmarks that John McCain finds wasteful spending.
2) is extreme on abortion rights and wants to overturn Roe V. Wade.
3) doesn"t believe in science or global warming.
4) believes God should tell her how to govern, fight wars and write policies.
5) is against equal pay for women.
6) is pro-censorship and would ban certain books in libraries across the country.
7) has flip-flopped on guns and abstinence .
8) does not have any foreign policy credentials to speak of.
9) and her husband flirted with Alaska"s secession from the Union.
10) Finally, we know she's itching for a fight. Dems need to answer her wish. Republicans will cry sexism no matter what. Let's give them something to cry about.

Signed,

A faithful Democrat in Austin, TX

Please forward to everyone you know. There is just TOO much at stake in this election to let the Republicans make it about personality.

John 64 years old Independent   September 7th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Sarah won't be giving any interviews to the media at large but, I'm sure she'll be highlighted on the right wing FOX News shows answering softball questions and giving "her version" of events speeches.

Why can't the main stream media get an interview with a person that could be our commander-in-chief?

GOP admit that Palin not qualified   September 7th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

To date, potential President Palin has been limited to reading prepared scripts and has not been allowed to speak for herself. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence sees though this. The GOP and John McCain obviously feel she isn't ready OR QUALIFED.

elle   September 7th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

tens of thousands sheep!!
Oh wait, that is what the Obama followers where accused of being for voting for somebody unknown!!!.

Ron   September 7th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

You think maybe he will ask her to ware a mini skirt if his ratings drop?

Betsy   September 7th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

That's called RESPECT!!! SOMETHING THAT JOHN MCCAIN SHOULD PRACTICE !!

susie   September 7th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

Obamanites get on the winning team. McCain and Palin they rule!!!

John 64 years old Independent   September 7th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Silly Sarah might be a savvy politician but, she is also a ruthless petty person when given even a little power.

Just goggle Anne Kilkenny and read from a person that has had a long term exposure to Ms Sarah, it sure is an eye opener.

Don't be fooled by the conservative media, yes that's right, the media has been purchased by very right wing rich folks who want to give you their version of people and events.

I keep getting edited by CNN for voicing my opinions on here but, I'll keep trying.

nick   September 7th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Where is Palin? Send out a search party!

Wendy in NC   September 7th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

If Gov. Palin is "not available" for press questions or interviews, then the entire press corps should refuse to cover their campaign. No more FREE coverage until they let her talk to the American people. The news media gives them tons of free exposure - save your money and dump them until they start talking to US.

Ted   September 7th, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Great move, Joe!

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