Palin schedule shows McCain on the defensive?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/06/art.palinnc.ap.jpg caption="Palin will go to Greenville, North Carolina Tuesday."](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."
Enough is enough. Quit the attacks. Address the issues. Behave like the leader of the free world should behave.
Like a punch drunk world champion who has stepped into the ring one to many times, we are now watching the death of a hero. McCain, a valiant hero who served his country as only a true patriot could, has sold his soul to the devil and has lost his last ounce of dignity. The speech he gave today was vile and disgusting, and he did it with a smile on his face. Of course he is on the defensive. His campaign went into self destruct mode the moment he chose Palin as his running mate. It is not the gloves that are coming off at Camp McCain, its the wheels. Why? Because there is no real belief in MCCain to hold it all together other that "I want to be President!"
It is only a credit to Obama that this race is still as close as it is. At any time, he could have campaigned "Chicago Style" and attacked McCain on the Keating Five, Mcain's age and mental health, CIndy McCain's drug problems, John McCain's alleged affair or the fact that Palin is under investigation by her own state. Instead he has shown an amazing calmness. A steady hand that has sometimes even frustrated his own supporters. McCain is a broken shell of the man he once was and perhaps now Obama will take the gloves off and, like a young fighter facing that punch drunk champion in the ring, will to the old man a favor put him out of his misery .
I find it amazing that Senator Obama, in his speeches, always manages to somehow separate himself from the government body of which he is a part of, (i.e., it's always the government's fault or Republicans, not mine) is what he speaks. But it seems that no one else seems to pick up on that? In all fairness to Senator McCain...Senator Obama and his campaign have had it really easy just having to connect McCain to Bush and there you have it, a ready made attack ad. But, it's just not fair since McCain is not Bush so therefore, it's an unjust attack and I'd like to remind Senator Obama's campaign that for the last couple of years the Senate was and is mostly made up of Democrats so what does that tell you?
It does not surprise me. McCain and his campaign do nothing else but continue to throw dirt, spout lies, misrepresentations, and smears. And McCain’s arrogant VP, Sarah Palin, acts like a malfunctioning robot, pitbull with lipstick, or whatever she called herself. She is just McCain’s flirting, lip-smacking, screeching toy; a puppet for the failing McCain campaign, saying whatever they pumped into her empty head. Somehow, she was able to fool Alaska but she will not fool the media and smart American voters.
I can't help thinking…who is caring her newborn with special need when she is not at the same place on the same day? What will her children think of the lies that come out of their own mother’s mouth? A lot of Palin’s family members and relatives are educator and she is shouting on at the top of her lungs on things that are totally untrue. I say “Shame on you, Governor Palin. Please do your children and your relatives a favor and stop lying.”
Sarah Sarah you make me sick!
I am women not supporting you.. on top of that I am white just like you I am supporting Obama, because he is smarter than you!
Obam 08
Joe Biden was right. Being a war hero does not guarantee a good president. These tactics tarnish any McCain legacy.
Mccain should have been worried a looong time ago. Like when he announced his running mate and she smiled like the town idiot and got all 'mavericky'. Obama is not going to be able to save our economic problems because these actions from the Federal Reserve, Congress, the Bush administration times 2 and even the Clinton Admin..etc...but he will definately be a change from the last 8 years. right about now I will take anything!! Well...anything but Mcidiot and the 'Fargo' doll. Mccain should be very defensive and grit his yellow teeth as usual. He made a BIG mistake and he knows it. I am sooo hoping that this does not turn around and the pegs get pushed incorrectly (Bush election). Mccain, the past...Obama..a much needed change.
mccain is desperate and flailing now. it's over folks.
It is so SAD to give McCain credit for what?! McCain and Palin is too busy trying to trash Obama while people are actually killing themselves and their families because of what is going on with the economy. People are losing their homes and jobs. McCain and Palin DON"T CARE!!!!!!!! That is SO SAD
If you don't vote for McCain you will hear this for the next 4 years.
PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA. Why would any true American vote for a man with Hussien in it. Think about this as well...Obama sounds to much like Osama
All Repubs need to pull together. The reall issue that no one seems to talk about is for the last few years hasn't the Dems been in control of the House and Senate....now who do we need to blame......Thought so
Vote for McCain!!!
Since no one on the campaign trail could muster a civil tone, let me share my condolences with the Biden family, and wish them well. Palin and McCain could have done the same, and then initiate their incessant ugliness, but even showing ANY sympathy or empathy is beyond them!
This is dumb when you have to resort to smear and scare tactics we are worried about feeding our families paying bills health care our economy in general not hearing rehashed rhetoric on new day.Do they have a plan what does it consist of?
"PETTY PALIN" that is all I have to say about her!
Palin has room to talk about character, let's see abusing her power as Governor to fire somebody, gay basher (prays for the conversion of homosexuals), attending 5 plus college's before graduating, anti-woman, anti-intellgence, etc. etc.
Is that a blue Obama 'O' she is signing?
I met my wife in North Carolina, NC is my second home. The people there are paying attention to the issues and are not distracted by McDrama_Queen and Company. It is only fitting that the state return to its native Carolina Blue.
As for McSame, I see that the latest favor for the week is a Terrorist play and a Rev Wright move. I am so bored, I think I'll vote early.
By george, I think I've got it. The reason the media is so pro-Obama is because the media fell for everything Bush said regarding the war, hook, line and sinker. No questions asked. Then they realized they had been duped and they looked stupid. Now they are against any and all Republicans just because of their own stupidity in the first place. History does repeat itself. They are the fools again.
Hey McCain if you want to have any kind of dignity left after losing the Presidency put a leach on your pit bull with lipstick, or is it the other way around. I think it's to late for that now anyway, your both in the toilet!
The new PPP poll has Obama up by 6 in NC.
I believe NC is going blue this time!!!!!
But I'll continue to work like we are 20 points behind.
Rezco, Ayres, Wright, ACORN, Flagger, Former Palastian employee, Farakahn. Is THIS the change you want? Why wont he release all of his college transcripts?? Why are they sealed? Why wont he release his Senor college thesis? What's he have to hide???? CNN is so pro-bama it's pathetic. You people may hate Fox News but they do not sugar coat Obama at all. He is a scary person with a lot more in mind than you might think for our country. So, go ahead call me moron, idiot, spreading lies( and if Fox News is spreading lies then why doesnt Obama sue????) oh and the ever popular calling a person a racist...so go ahead. Jokes gonna be on you come Jan 09!
i think she is ugly! and needs cosmetic surgery above her eyes to lift that fat above her eyes am i the only one that notice that skin hanging there,it's closing her eyes, if she was a nice person i would had not notice this. i'am sorry that i'm off base like palin.
You can't stop the signal.
Obama / Biden 08'
Most of the people who want obama 08, 12 just want Obama to be pres and do not really care about the issues. Yeah, maybe there is rationalization behind those who want him to be pres in 08... but you (those who proudly proclaim obama-biden 08, 12) don't know/care about what the issues will be in 2012. You don't even know that he will be a good president. You guys are just all in love with the idea of it.
Idiots. Clinton carried NC in 1992.