(CNN) - The McCain campaign announced Sarah Palin is set to make a stop in North Carolina Tuesday night, two days after the Republican VP candidate stumped in Nebraska - two reliably red states that haven't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in at least three decades.
Palin's most recent travel schedule is the latest indication Barack Obama and the nation's ailing economy have put John McCain on the defensive, even in states where the prospect of a Democratic win was unthinkable only four years ago.
Palin's visit to North Carolina comes as most recent polls of the state show Obama and McCain essentially in a dead heat there. A CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation poll of North Carolina last month showed the candidates dead even, while some recent polls have even suggested a slight Democratic lead. CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation will release a new North Carolina poll Tuesday morning.
Election Center: Check out the latest state polls
Then there’s the unknown variable of an anticipated rise in turnout in the African-American community. In 2006 that voting bloc made up 26 percent of North Carolina's electorate, with 85 percent voting for Sen. John Kerry. Obama is expected to win an even higher percentage of the black vote this cycle, with a higher expected turnout as well.
"The North Carolina of today is far more diverse than the North Carolina of twenty or even ten years ago," CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib said. "The state’s changing economy has attracted thousands of new voters willing to pull the lever for a Democratic nominee. Second, the state’s sizable African-American voting bloc is extremely energized by Obama’s candidacy. Third, the economic downturn has made Tar Heel voters — just like voters in the rest of the country — much more receptive to the Democratic message of change."
Palin's appearance in the state comes more than five months after McCain held his last public event there, delivering a speech in early May at Wake Forest on his vision for judicial appointments. The event came the same day as Indiana and North Carolina's Democratic primaries and was largely overshadowed by the still-ongoing battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.
McCain-Palin spokesman Ben Porritt said Monday the campaign remains confident the Republican ticket will carry the state.
"This is a state that Barack Obama has put millions of dollars into," he said. "This is an opportunity to speak to our supporters there and makes sure they turn out."
Porritt also declined to say whether McCain has any plans to visit North Carolina before Election Day.
The North Carolina visit comes after Palin traveled to Nebraska's Second Congressional District Sunday, prompting pundits to speculate the McCain campaign is worried the Obama could peel off an electoral vote there. Nebraska, like Maine, awards its electoral votes by the winner of each congressional district, and the second district - which includes Omaha and its surrounding areas - is the most Democratic.
But Palin told Nebraska voters Sunday she was not visiting the state because the campaign was worried about a possible loss there.
“The pundits today on TV—one of them was saying, check out the vice president’s schedule, check out where she’s going—she’s going to Nebraska,” she said. “But the pundit was saying the only reason she’d be going there is ‘cause they’re scared, so they got to go there and shore up votes. And I wanted to reach into that TV and say no, I’m going to Nebraska because I want to go to Nebraska."
From CNN Politics
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MCCAIN IS A PERVERT, LAIR, NARCISSTIC , A MUDSLINGER TO MAKE HIMSELF FEEL AND LOOK BETTER.
PALIN IS DANGEROUS.
DOES SHE EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE IS SAYING, ESPECIALLY CALLING OBAMA A TERROIST. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO SAY AND SHE SHOULD BE CALLED OUT ON IT. THIS ELECTION IS NOT A GAME AND WHAT SHE SAID WAS VERY SEROIUS AND AGAIN DISHONEST.
CHRISTIAN LADY, CHURCH LADY .
OH YEAH A PIT BULL
Palin would put womens issues back about 50 years. No sex ed, no pro choice, no healthcare for all and censorship. That's what she stands for. This is unamerican.
What a slap in the face face to women to think that she represents women in America.
Wake up people!!!!
palin's rally attendance numbers are dropping like bricks. must be all that success from her debate......
Palin and Mc Cain are talking character issues. Their own. Apparently their mothers didn't offer them the wisdom mine offered me: Never forget that when you point your finger at someone to defame him, your other three fingers are pointing back at you.
Palin and McShame are full of it! In this day and age, if Ayers is considered a terrorist, he would be in jail with no rights. What he did was back when Obama was a kid. Geesh! Ayers has turned his life around working for charities, and Obama did not relate to him based on his past, but based on his current community efforts.
Palin needs to get over herself and go back to Sunday school. She is definitely missing Christian values – and she still cannot answer follow-up questions. When will she be on Meet the Press? No scripts there.
I must say, for many of the McCain supporters, you have said nothing but racist statements. I hope you grow up! We are in a global economy. Race is no longer important. A wise man said "grow or become extinct." We can be what the founding fathers fought for a free nation. The land were all people are created equal. I can not believe their are people who still believe that they are more human than others. I am looking forward to the day when humanity for all people becomes the basics.
CNN enjoys such negative news for John McCain. Other media like CBS, ABC, MSNBC are also in the same tank. Barack Obama has no experience to run our nation. period. He is a fraud and he is taking advantage of current economic situation. He will make our country bankrupt.
ummm, don't they mean 2004, in reference to african americans voting kerry in nc?
It's pretty amusing that Anonymous can reinterpret history and when the facts completely fail – yep bring out the old communists!
The republicans are starting to panic because they want to keep the tax breaks for the rich and keep the cheap imports with third world slave labor.
Anonymous – get a life and work for your money! The republicans are throwing the world into depression with their thievery covered up by deregulation.
Obama is the American Story... he's brillant, a leader just what America needs.
This woman, and all she represents, religious righteousness, hypocrisy, lies, racism, will find its appropriate end this November.
She goes on about O and Ayers, but never mentions that McCain voted against making bombing clinics and murdering doctors a terrorist act. He protected terrorists....
The event O attended at Ayers home was for another Chicago politician and not for him, but of course you can't count on truth from the McCain camp.
What about McCain's involvement in the the SunCor land deal where he helped a political donor acquire public land on the cheap
What about Todd's connection to the AIP and it's radical leader who die in a bombing. O needs to bring up these things because if McCain bring forward lies he can bring forward the truth.
E>>>>R>>>>A>>>>T>>>>I>>>>C
>>>>>>>>>>>>&>>>>>>>>>>>>>
D>>>E>>>S>>>P>>>A>>>R>>>A>>>T>>>E
Barack Your Vote!!!!!!!
Think people. If McCain is elected president, we will be in another war (Iran) before 2009 is out. McCain is a clown and his side kick is too. Who wants to listen to a man that keeps talking about is time in the navel. Is there anything else on his plate, other than him being a POW for five years. What did he do during those five years? Nothing. He was out of touch with the world, just like he is right now.
Can anyone with a brain think that the John/Sarah team will not make things worst?
They have got the Ameican public just where they want them. Scared out of their wits as a result of an engineered economic crisis. Now they are ready to put their man in the top postion in the world. They positioned him so well, he probably doesn't even know it. The public like lemmings will follow him over the cliff. You have to ask yourself- how does a nobody, from nowhere, inside of 4 years position themself to become the most powerful man in the world? Its inevitable, he is going to win – then just wait as the proverbial you know what hits the fan. Once again the American public will have the wool pulled over their eyes. We are in big trouble. Read this blog. The supporters are in a rage of idolation – unbelievable. Ask yourself who was the last man in history to create such blind loyalty? Please to meet – guess you know my name!
McCain himself said 8 years ago that when a candidate resorts to smears it's because they have nothing else to contribute....
He was right....he's done nothing but smear....and it's obvious he has nothing to contribute as president.
Besides Sarah plans on taking his place
Palin will definitely make it back to Alaska for the rapture. This rethug campaign is definitely a temp job with no prospects for hiring.
She is a hateful woman that does not take care of her children. Dragging them around for show late at night is not what a good parent does. Why isn't Todd staying at home with them? He is choosing celebrity status instead of being a good father.
I am sure Barack Obama will be kicked out in tomorrow's debate. Barack cannot have presidential debate because he is a street boy from South Chicago. He has no experience and he is with a blank resume. Who can give him a job? America, wake up. You cannot make this radical our President. You can come to Chicago and talk to our friends here. Seeing is believing.
Dan, TX – Like the rest of Obama supporters you didn't give all the facts. McCain was NOT found guilty of any wrongdoing. Don't forget, it's CNN fact checks which have a spin to the left. We'll see if they post this.
Why isn't anyone talking about her Pentacostal church! Pretty strange they talk in tongues. This is who you want to be VP....... Go back to Alaska. You pt a baby on stage just to get pity.
Sick.
This is the same thing that Charlie Wilson did in Afghanistan with USSR, if we keep on pumping 10 Billion Dollars a month on a stupid war we are headed down the drain.
Let not our HEART be Trouble..............OBAMA/BIDEN 08
It is a shame the American people are so naive and have lost all respect for God. When anyone would sit under a man like Jeremiah Wright for 20 years and the American people would vote for him they deserve whatever happens to them. Jeremiah Wright talked hate in the pulpit and ridiculed people, my Bible don't teach hate. Who paid for Obama's college from Harvard and his $1.4 million dollar house,
I guess people don't delve far enough into things to be educated by facts. The only change that is coming from Obama/Biden is for the worst. Why did he take the American flag off of his jet. I think it should be a law that a person has to serve in the military before they can be Commander in Cheif of the troops.
Ohio is for Obama...We love him.