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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Obama will not get my vote, for the same reason that GW did
not get mine in 00 and 04: empty suite and smooth talking
lines.
IM WILLING TO BET SHE DIDN'T KNOW OR CARE SHE'S TOO BUSY WHIPPING THE CROWDS INTO A FRENZY OVER NEGATIVE THINGS. BY THE WAY SHE IS NOT A ROLE MODEL.
Joe the Plumber has taken more questions from the press than Palin!
He's a real guy. He's from a swing state. He's not afraid of the press and he hates taxes. Drop the "female" pitbull and "Go for Joe" 08!
Sarah Palin is setting the Women's Movement in Politics back 100 years!
She Proves Again, She Doesn't Know Anything.
Obama/Biden 08'
We all must get out and vote on or before Nov 4.
Sarah Palin must be sent back to Alaska.
We voted early today – LOTS OF US – and they are expecting more all the way through. No one wants to wait until the last day.
I voted for Obama/Biden '08
North Carolina going Blue!!! Just voted!!!
Obama/Biden 08
DONT GET COCKY...GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!
YES WE CAN
I agree, Obama/Biden is the way to go!!!!!
Palin does not want to remind voters about this because she is afraid that democrats and independents will go vote for Obama right away.
who cares what Palin has to say...I only want to hear her say Bye!!! I am on my way back to Alaska....
Obama again failed to draw as many people to last night's TV
debate as Sarah Palin did in her debate-
She buried Obama by 10 million people-–predictably she will bury
him by the same 10 million people on election day–
If not, she'll return in 2012 as the Presidential candidate and bury
Obama as she will not have McCain as an albatross around her neck-
she dont really care rember she said she has nothing to lose on rush limburg radio show
If people get cocky and democrats lose this election I will be very PISSED! I do not like the democrats all that much but they are far better than the republicans this year. In fact the republicans simply cannot be allowed in the white house until they get their act together.
BARRACK YOU HAVE HAD MY VOTE FROM DAY ONE.WE WILL NOT GET NEGATIVE , AND WE WILL WIN
GOD BLESS
"Joe the Plumber" should go by "Joe The Corn" 'cause he's a plant.
1/4 mill a year?!?!?! Start up business?!?!?! "Undecided Voter"?!?!?! They bring in a "Joe Six-Pack" and of all the names in the world.....you guessed it......."JOE"
Give me a break!!! How dumb do they think we are!?!?!?
Just another desperation gimmick from the McShame campaign.
I bet there's another reason she's roasting – Troopergate is heating up. the chief of the State Troopers testified he asked the gov. and first dude to stop requesting the fireing and that all disaplineary action was taken already in the troopers case. He said she wouldn't like the conciquences of this being exposed to the public. Well buddy – it's exposed now. We all need to turn the page on Dick Chenney' VP and it appears Palin is cut from the same mold.
Go Obama /Biden
Dear Sarah Palin:
You say it's not mean-spirited to call someone out on their record. Okay. In that case, could you please explain your support, and your husband's membership in, the Alaska Independence Party, dedicated to the secession of Alaska from the United States of America. It hardly sounds like "putting country first" to me.
Thanks.
We wouldn't want all of that makeup to melt off now would we?
She is clueless about everything..
@ BOBBIE IN MARYLAND, YES, OBAMA/BIDEN did a great job in ALL the debates!!
I have been talking to many people both friends and family, as well, as members of my parish (Catholic). Everyone, even my elderly Republican parents are DISGUSTED with the VILE tone of the Republican-hate-lies-and-fear machine is spewing.
I believe that the Republicans will be stunned....... by the REJECTION OF THEIR POLITICS by a vast majority of fair-minded-and-decent......AMERICANS!
To MCCAIN I SAY ..........STOP THE HATE..........STOP THE LIES!
Palin thinks you win the White House after a bicathalon moose hunt/snow machine race. She doesn't understand voting, unless it's in a beauty pageant.
this woman needs to go back to Alaska where she'll face her impeachment as not only a lying "conservative" (what a joke) but also as a lying governor and a disgrace to women! hit the books u pathetic woman!
My God, how long will we get to reap the benefit of intelligence from this woman???
Sarah must've forgotten about the early voting because of the severe heat stroke she is suffering.