by Mark Silva
Sarah Palin, "reformer," John McCain, "straight-talker'' (and did he mention, Navy man?) on the road in Ohio, "battleground:''
This wraps up a post-convention victory-tour for the Republican Party's newly minted ticket, as Palin prepares to head home for Alaska to ship her son off to Iraq and sit for her first news interview as a vice presidential nominee, with ABC's Charlie Gibson.
In the second phase of the McCain-Palin ticket, they will find their own campaign paths, and Palin is hinting at some small-town venues in this talk today.
"What we have to do is take our message of reform - because the U.S. government is so in need of reform - we are going to take that message of reform all across this nation to everyone in every party and no party at all,'' Palin said, on a day when polling is showing that independents have turned McCain's way.
"It's going to be small-town America to getting to us where we need to be,'' said Palin, former mayor of a small town in Alaska and now governor.
McCain turned out in his Navy cap, which he has worn a lot lately. It's not merely sensitivity to the sun that motivates the skin-cancer survivor here, but also a certain reminder, perhaps, that someone else never served.
"These are tough times,'' McCain said. "This week we're looking at a costly government-led restructuring of our home-loan agencies... we cannot allow this to turn into a bailout of Wall Street speculators and irresponsible executives. They cannot be rewarded.
"All you've ever asked is for govenrment to stand on your side,'' the Republican nominee for president said in Ohio today, "and not in your way.''
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Sarah Palin, the "reformer" who left Wasilla in debt even after getting millions in federal earmarks from Ted Stevens and charged Alaskan taxpayers per diem expenses while staying in her own house? That's the kind of reform Republicans believe in?
Posted by: Tom O | September 9, 2008 3:24 PM
As governor, she cut the budget, vanquished big oil, gave each man, woman and child a $1,200 rebate and has produced a 5 billion dollar surplus for her state. That is impressive. And Obama has done what? Keep trying Palin haters; Sarah has a record ordinary Americans can relate to - that is why she has captured the atention of so many of us. She gets things done - unlike the leaders we have now. I'd like to see her elected as part of the McCain Palin ticket. If not, I think America will forgo a real opportunity for change. And if the Mccain-Palin ticket is defeated, I will do what I do each day - go to work and hope for a better day. You see, unlike most of you pathetic Palin haters, I have a life. Through good times and bad, Republican and Democrat administrations, I have kept sight on one thing -taking care of myself and my family. Some of you rabid leftists should do the same.
Posted by: Jeff in Orlando | September 9, 2008 3:45 PM
It's over for Obama. The more he and his angry left cohorts try to lie and smear Governor Palin the more presidential and above the fray John McCain looks. Obama can't handle John McCain so he's going after Palin. Pathetic.
Posted by: Jeff in Chicago | September 9, 2008 4:29 PM
The state of Alaska can give their citizens a rebate because they are on the federal dole!
Alaska got $489 per person in 2006 and a whopping $985 per person in 2005!
Sarah Palin and Ted Stevens had no qualms about spending our federal tax money on Wasilla back then. What makes you think she's gonna change now?
Posted by: Tom O | September 9, 2008 5:19 PM
God bless those Bush Republicans, they are going to allow our war veterans, who are hospitalized or in nursing homes, shelters for the homeless, or rehabilitation centers, to register to vote. Until today, they were denied that right. I think these Republicans have things backwards. It is our veterans, who have sacrificed, mightily, that deserve our attention, admiration and our consideration. Nothing less, would be a slap in their face and a slap in our face, as a nation !! Now, if we can just make sure they are getting the medical attention they have been denied, in the past !! Don't take this administration's word for it, let the press and Veterans Organization, go out and make sure they are not, still being short changed, by the Bush administration !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/us/politics/09vets.html?ref=washington
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | September 9, 2008 6:07 PM
Oh... confusing. Jeff in Orlando and Jeff in Chicago. Which is the Jeff who was toe tapping in the Larry Craig mens room in Minnesota last week??? Anyway, Jeff in Chicago doesn't seem to have read the article, which isn't about Obama. That Palin looks like an empty pantsuit to me. Not ready to take over.
Posted by: Flo | September 9, 2008 6:10 PM
Please don't go there with the snarky comments about the Navy ball cap.
Is the new kind of poltics that Obama is promising, such that now the media ridicules a guy -- third generation -- who joined the Navy at 17 and has a son in the Naval Academy and another who serves in the Marines (which is part of the US Navy)?
Does he always need to wear his D-backs cap to please the pundits?
Why, because the Navy cap highlights the fact that The Chosen One was doing "a little blow" at 17?
My family served in the US Navy. My husband is a combat vet with two tours during Gulf War I.
We love the Navy.
That snark is disgusting to those of us who love the troops..
Posted by: Jan | September 9, 2008 8:21 PM
There's reality.....and then there is real-life. We have to live the real-life of 4 more years of a tanking economy, with Freddie-Mac Bailouts paying CEOs huge golden parachutes, of 4 more years of rising healthcare costs, of 4 more years of our military being overstretched and serving without proper equipment. Reality however, is McSame sitting in the White House, with some lady who's never left the country sitting shotgun. Nothing surprises me in this country anymore. Nothing. At least McSame's campaign, which is filled with lobbyists will be able to continue the pillaging of the American public - living the reality.
Posted by: karl | September 9, 2008 10:04 PM