VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) – With several recent polls showing Barack Obama gaining ground in southeastern Virginia, Sarah Palin boldly told a crowd of supporters Monday that the entire presidential election may hinge on this diverse but Republican-leaning part of the commonwealth.
Watch: Palin pumps up the VA crowd
"This election is going to come right down to the wire here, and it’s pretty clear that the road to victory in 2008, it's going to run right through the Hampton Roads,” Palin said. “We’re counting on the people of America's First Region to help us send John McCain to the White House. Yes! Virginia are you ready to help carry this state to victory?”
The crowd’s noisy reaction suggested they were. But recent polling suggests that this year’s presidential race will be tighter than usual in southeastern Virginia, leading some observers to predict that the battleground state’s 13 electoral votes could be decided here.
Hampton Roads, a sprawling and populous region comprised of Tidewater cities including Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, is a demographic melting pot of conservative Christians, African-Americans and military families. The 4,300 acre Naval Station Norfolk is the largest naval installation in the world, and Virginia Beach is the state’s largest city.
CNN’s most recent poll of the commonwealth, conducted September 28-30, showed Obama with a 57-40 lead over McCain in southeast Virginia. (In the context of this poll, southeast Virginia encompasses not just Hampton Roads, but also some inland counties that may include larger populations of African-Americans.) A Mason-Dixon poll of registered voters released on October 1, suggested a statistically insignificant 47-46 lead for McCain in Hampton Roads.
Democratic Senator Jim Webb, a decorated war hero, defeated Republican George Allen in Southeast Virginia by six points in 2006, but John Kerry lost the region by three points to George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
Obama’s campaign has worked furiously to register African-Americans in the region, especially in cities with major black populations, like Norfolk and Newport News. McCain’s campaign is confident that the GOP nominee’s military background will be enough to carry him in the region on November 4.
Unfortunately for Palin, her botched pronunciation of “Norfolk” likely won’t go unnoticed by the locals.
“Very good to be here in the home of the Naval Station Nor-fork, yeah, and the Naval Air Force Station also, Oceana,” she said.
From CNN Politics
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This woman is in no way qualified to be the next VP, or worse, the next President of the US! She is uneducated in regards to the economy or foreign policy, she is unethical and incites division in all of her speeches.
I won't trust her with my future, or my children's future.
Obama 08
Maybe they could of won if McCain didn't have to babysit her all the time.
Is she still talking? Yeah. Does she ever really say anything? No. Unless it's to incite a lynch mob and forcing John McCain to have to say you don't have to be afraid of Obama.
I hope Obama runs that clip in an ad.
Nor-fork?! Nuc-u-lar? Haven't we had enough of folksy? How has that worked out for us?
22 day until she heads back to Canada. Canada? What am i saying? We all know she never leaves the country.
The mother of the year (not!) who doesn't even buckle her child into a carseat but lectures others about being pro-life needs to go back where she came from. She's rude, condescending, and sarcastic and all the lipstick and winking in the world can't hide the fact that she's a mean spiteful person who would be just another Dick Cheney. Please, spare us any more "news" on this woman.
That's what McCain gets for spending too much time in Michigan.
My Friend "soon" Palin will have tennis shoe on and running toward;s bridge to NO WHERE"
Ms Palin,
To give our fighting men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan the tools they need is PATRIOTISM
To rebuild the Common Infrastructure is PATRIOTISM
AND YES WE NEED TO PAY FAIR TAXES FOR THIS EFFORTS,
THUS MAKING US PATRIOTIC BY PAYING OUR TAXES.
WAKE-UP PEOPLE.
OBAMA NOW, OBAMA NEXT
Senator Obama is admirable. He is presidential and shows he is very ready to lead. He is focused, collected, intelligent and dignified, rising ABOVE inappropriate attacks on his character. In this turbulent and confusing time, he shows his steadiness, stability and genuine desire to help people stay calm. We need these attributes in a respectable and truly caring leader.
With Senator Biden, who has also shown that he is fully capable as Vice President, I believe and trust the Obama/Biden ticket to keep America great, especially for the future of my children and grandchildren.
The Pathalogical Tour of Lies thankfully will end in 22 days. I doubt Alaska even wants Palin back after she has been found to be the biggest liar in American history.The Alaskan pipeline project will be a no go and her guilt of abuse just might have her unwelcome in Alaska.I hope they change some rules for the next election so we don't have a campaign that spews hate and division.Perhaps they could hook up lie detectors to the candidates.McCain and Palin would have blown them up in this campaign. 22 Days !!!!!!! No more Lies !!!!!
Sarah Palin proved, once again, that she doesn't get it. She doesn't understand the various regions of the US, she can't even get the correct military designations correct (and you would think John McCain would have told her.... there is no " Naval Air Force Station."
PLEASE put this woman out of our misery!!
McCain isn't long for this world, even if he doesn't die he's bound to get very sick in the next few years leaving only one person to lead. Scary though, very scary.
At least get the name of the region correct – it is not "the Hampton Roads" it is simply Hampton Roads. If you give a speech in my home state at least know the proper name of the area!
WHY WOULD AMERICA VOTE IN A BROOD MARE AS VP?
I love her having to grovel in a (formerly) Red state. Yeah, that "Nor-fork" is the one you use for the salad course.
Send Sara up to Quantico(C.I.A.). The people up there will know what to do with her. Gag & Bag.
When will this woman stop! Look up dope in the dictionary and there's a picture of Palin winkin' back at ya. She thinks that wherever she's campaigning is the focal point of the election. If that was true, wouldn't John McCain be there, too?
Gov. Palin – it'd be better if you focused on the economy by first re-paying the taxes you owe this year on the reimbursement income you received from your state of Alaska for your children's travel expenses....
PLEASE PAY YOUR TAXES
Comments are so mean – I worry about our country. I don't plan to vote for Obama, but I don't have to be disrespectful just because I disagree. No wonder negative campaigning is done – that's the heart of the average American if the tone of political comments are any measure.
Actually, Palin doesn't understand that it is NORTHeastern Virginia, not SOUTHeastern Virginia, that now has the population to swing the state – and the election. And, by the way, northeastern Virginia is solidly supporting Obama.
Why didn't you report that over 10,000 people attended this rally?
But of course you emphasized the fact that Palin mispronounced
Norfolk. No doubt Obama will have the correct pronounciation on his teleprompter when he pays a visit.
In Obama's speech today in Toledo it has been billed by the mainstream media as 'new economic proposals' or 'expands economic message'. About 75-80% of his speech was devoted to proposals he has already made, another 'big' idea had already been proposed by Clinton and denounced by Obama as a 'disaster', Obama for his part made two rather minor proposals. The major media outlets are so far in the tank for him it's really become pathetic.
GO Sarah, this game is FAR from OVER!
Go Sarah!!!
I believe the Rev. Arnold went way too far. He is completly out of line. Comments like that have no place in America be it politics or religion.
VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN!
Can't wait for her to go home and be quiet. She has been used by the McCain campaign to do their dirty work. Hope we don't hear from her in 2012.
Don't worry Sarah, some of us still love the good old US of A. I am a patriot to the end and will always stand up for American freedom. I come from the same blood as the Minuteman. I am ready to fight for what is right. Don't let them take away our bullets.