ELON, North Carolina (CNN) – Thursday marked the first day of early voting in North Carolina, a state unaccustomed to being in the political spotlight this late in a presidential election year.
But at an afternoon rally at Elon University near Greensboro, Republican Sarah Palin did not offer her supporters even the gentlest reminder that early voting - an opportunity both parties are working to take advantage of - is now underway at nearly 400 sites across the battleground state. Long lines at one-stop voting locations have been reported throughout North Carolina.
She did, however, mention the 85 degree heat.
“Thank you all for that very, very warm welcome to beautiful North Carolina, and it is warm,” she said. “Man, this Alaskan gal is … I’m roasting. This feels really good.”
Palin’s speech lasted only about 20 minutes, and was an abbreviated version of the remarks she delivered this morning in Maine: a brisk run-through of her ticket’s beliefs and platforms, including a one-line promise to protect Second Amendment rights.
In fact, the audience spent more time with country singer Hank Williams, Jr., who donned a Carolina Panthers jersey and warmed up the already warm crowd for about 45 minutes before Palin arrived on a local version of the Straight Talk Express along with North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr.
Near the end of her speech, Palin pressed the audience to stand firm against accusations of negative campaigning, and told them to pay “close attention” to Barack Obama’s record.
“It’s not mean-spirited and it’s not negative campaigning when you call someone out on their record,” she said. “So don’t let anyone, don’t let them make you believe that you’re being negative or mean spirited or unpatriotic or unfair when you are asking about somebody’s record, OK?”
After the rally, Palin continued on to a fundraiser at a home in Greensboro.
From CNN Politics
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The CNN poll also now has my home state of Virginia leaning to Obama! However, just as Obama said today...we can't get cocky. We need to continue to carry the message of hope to everyone between now & Nov. 4th. And then GET OUT THE VOTE!!
Go Obama/Biden!!!
P.S. Didn't they both do a great job in ALL the debates??!!
Did Palin even know that voting was going on there! She is sooooooooooooooo clueless. Just Plain dumb
Stay away from my state, wench. I do believe NC will truly be Carolina Blue November 4th.
Hey Palin, you thin NC is "roasting hot"? Wait until you get to hell!
Well, let's not remind her.
CNN OBAMA IS WINNING IN EVERY STATE THAT YOU CALL A TOSS UP ACCORDING TO REAL CLEAR POLITICS BARELY BUT WINNING.
INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA WHERE MRS PALIN IS.
Please Baracks name on the ballot...
Do not press straight Democrtatic ticket or you will not be voting for him..
The woman is delusional. Worst VP pick EVER!! It will go down in the history books as one of the reasons McCain lost.
She mentioned the heat.
Maybe she knows SHE'S DONE!
She did not mention it cuz she's a Dope!
She's roasting all right, in he!!.
Maybe it was best she didn't mention it, she probably has no ideal where she is.
I think this one is better off in Alaska.
I am trying to figure out why anything she does is still news. The only thing she is good at, is memorizing 5 talking points, and go from stump to stump. She is screwed when she is up for re-election in Alaska.
Silly Rabbitt...... Something so simple to do is just say VOTE.
I love this woman, she is so great for the Democratic Party.
And she's right, she is roasted, and so is john mccain...and i couldn't be more thankful!
I'm sure Palin will remember to mention all the unspeakable harm she thinks an Obama Administration would bring to the country. Strange how she never seems to forget to slander us Democrats.
Obama/Biden '08
Back to Alaska, Carabou Barbie!!!
Uh, this is news? A gaffe? Whatever.
NObama 08!
That Joe guy gets more attention then Palin. So McCain is using him as his new gimmick. Move over Palin. VP not as important the a plumber. He is more liked. Which, proves nobody likes McCain still. NC, will it go blue? That remains to be seen.
Bobbie, I agree. I thought we got a lot of substance from these debates. Obama has a better plan, so more people say he won the debates. Both men put forward their vision for the country. And for me, that made the choice all that more easy.
What, Palin didn't offer voters benefitial information and instead, made some whimsical comment about the heat? I find that very hard to believe
Bobbie – I noticed that as well...hopefully we can really get out the vote and get Northern VA to sway the whole state!
Well that's no surprise. Given the current polls, if the country were to vote RIGHT NOW, it definitely wouldn't look too good for the republicans. Better for the GOP to wait it out a couple more weeks and hope that Obama is outed as a transgendered Wiccan or something...
Barack and Joe both did well. No contest in the debates. It still amazes me that anyone would support Palin knowing that she actively avoids interviews and will not let Americans know more about her.