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."
McCain/Palin 08
Total Disgrace for Republicans........independent voter....
It is realy a sad day here in America. There are so many clueless people. Look up your history people. I don't want any more closed minded cowboy mavericks in the white house! Look it up! A maverick is a cattel hustler. Oh for you city folk, that meens he steals his neighbors riches.
I will just keep posting CNN.
By some slim chance that she should make it there, Sarah would like to know if the desk in the office in the west wing already has knee pads under it, or if she needs to bring her own?
Palin/McCain campaign.......IT'S THE ECONOMY...STUPID!!!!
Please stop with dirty politics as usual...we are tired of it!!!! We need HELP, we need policy information, we need plans...not the same political games....get some different campaign leaders who advise you of this fact!!!....
As a female I am ashamed of your choice as a VP(Pit Bull w/ lipstick) .....You chose politics first over country first. Especially (sorry to say Senator McCain)since there is something to say about the possiblity that she may have to step into the presidential position. VERY SCARY.
This election has shown me ... I can no longer believe anything I hear on CNN...It used to be my favorite station. I've turned you off. I am only listening to the daily news. You are too liberal for me!!!
Look I believe Gov. Palin is the wrong person to be putting out attach's on anyone. Maybe we should be asking her and her husband (first dude) about Joe Volgler, who Gov. Palin has praised in the past, who also would of been put on the TERRORIST WATCH LIST if he were alive, or since Palin want's to bring up Rev Wright maybe we should ask about Pastor Thomas Moothy, who in a suburb of Kenya charged an innocent woman of the crime rate going up in that area and said she was a witch and ran her out of town with a mob. See Gov. Palin there is an amazing engine called GOOGLE, you should try it next time you decide to throw stone's.
Why isn't anybody talking about the fact that McCain cheated on his wife. He is the one launchng 'character' attacks on Obama so I think that he has made that fair game. What a hypocrite! He will say or do anything or become president.
How is Palin going to shake things up? She is not even respected. Her speeches have absolutely no substance. Ask yourself: is Palin really the best VP America has to offer?
Vote Obama/Biden 2008
Sen. John McCain: I pledge again a respectful campaign. A respectful campaign based on the issues and based on the stark differences we have on the vision for the future of America.
McCain: I've pledged to conduct a respectful campaign and I urge, time after time, various entities within the Republican party to also do that.
That is what John (I'm lying through my dentures) McCain promised. I believe that promise lasted slightly longer than the life expectancy of a Mayfly (One day)
Well, Palin is a demon. How many schools did she attend? she is the most uninformed person and it should scare the hell out of everyone to even imagine that she can be the next president if anything happened to this hargard old man.Evil can never outshine any good. Americans have had enough of empty vessels like palin and mcain. Keep injecting lies but may it backfire on you palin and whoever the withered old man. You are also a racist palin, to even imagine that Obama does not share what you share as an American? What do you think Obama is?
So now they have decided that for McCain to look good and to be appealing to voters and to win the presidency he must be running against a terrorist.
Is there anyone who disagrees with that !!??
you obama lovers are so pethatic not to mention retarded. If McCain were was really desparate, he would've called Obama the N word.
So the fact that he didn't just shows the stupidity in all of you people including you, Jack Cafferty you old SEA HAGG!
Like or not, McCain will win on Nov. 4th. so LIVE WITH IT!
McCain/Palin '08
McCain's map has a lot of cracks. North Carolina, Virgina, Florida,Ohio. Lose any one of them and it's all over.
I'm the imbasile.. CNN. But Still I will will be here, long.-Aftter you.are sewage
Any honour McCain had is gone. He is an absolute disgrace. Go back to Vietnam you filthly old man!!
Who cares about Ayers! is Ayers a Financial terrioist? Is he the one causing the job losses, the bank problems and deregulation issues? Then why is anyone talking about Ayers. McCain's issue with Keating is far more important because McCain used his position to cause some questionable infulences and he had a personal relationship with Keating. It is almost like McCain wanted to get the Ayers story out there in case the media started pointing to the Keating S&L losses as an example of what is happening today. McCain wants to say see Obama had relations with Ayers who is like Charles Keating was to McCain. But it's just not the same. Not even close. Ayers and Obama worked on charitable educational foundations. McCain used his influence to let Charles Keating loot the Silver Dollar S&L where people (American Citizens) loss millions. I think Chales Keating was a financial terrorist who destroyed the S&L industries there are none left now.
Gov. Palins career is going the same place the bridge went......NOWHERE!
So now that the gloves are off lets get down to real issues that "Joe six pac" folks want to hear.
I support this comment, thank you:
I thought that calling someone a terrorist with racial overtones is considered a hate crime? Why is nobody addressing this? As a citizen, I would like to know why a police officer can go on a stage that is nationally televised due to it's content and almost make a threat with no consequences? If Obama did something like this, the RNC would be all over it. The DNC needs to take this one and run it to the highest authority. I'm appalled and so is everyone I know. All of my Indy friends are decided and ready to put an end to this ridiculous pitbull and maverick crap. OBAMA/BIDEN WE WILL PREVAIL!!
Both Palin and McCain are the most pathetic people I have ever seen on TV or even met in life. They are in need of some serious psychiatric intervention. Calling another person a terrorist for their own gain is more than disgusting. I don't even know how the people of Alaska could have put her in the office to run that state.
Peace and harmony for Obama/Biden 2008
For all of you Obama Lemmings foaming at the mouth, remember, it was Barack Obama who chose to be led by Ayers, Wright, et al. It starts from the ground and goes up. Americans have a right to know what his fundamental beliefs are and why he hates America so much. McCain can stand tall for his service to this country.
McCain/Palin 2008
John McCain and Sarah Palin deserve each other – both are slimmy people. While a 90 year old woman shoots herself because she's about to have her house foreclosed and hundreds of other Americans are losing their homes and worst, these two low life "nit wits" are trying to smear and fear people in to voting for their sorry butts!!!
With the help of Almighty God, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will win this election and help put this country back together!!!
Obama/Biden 08/12
Mrs. palin I bet nobody takes you seriously, After all that interview. how do you know all this you don't read newspaper.......
All you McCain supporters that say he can turn the economy around. Just how do you know he can do that? He hasn't given a plan; Obama's economic plan is on his website for all to see. He said he wouldn't vote for the rescue bill if there was ear-marks in it, then he voted for it with the ear-marks included. So far, McCain has done just the opposite of everything he said he would do. Some judgment, some leader...NOT!
Some of the Obama supporters are haters. They do not know the important will do. It is dangerous to let the enemy inside!!!
This is over,McCain can only now win,the most retarded,of the red states.No-one,no-one,who does not,goose-step to the orders of gestapo am,thinks McCain can win now.
Love you Sarah...You are a true role model and hero for American women. Those who attack you are jealous – plain and simple. McCain and Palin 08!!