AP Photo

OCALA, FL –-The Palin family sat down with Greta van Susteren on the Straight Talk Two last night outside of Harrisburg, PA. Husband Todd, 13-year-old Willow, 7-year-old Piper, and her 6-month-old son Trig joined Governor Palin after the family went trick or treating.

Palin told van Susteren at this stage in the campaign she is not really talking to her running mate about strategy because “we both are so confident that we are on the right path.”

She added that the GOP ticket is in the underdog position, but that “is the place we need to be.”

Palin is “confident” about a win on Election Day and is looking forward to the McCain-Palin administration’s first 100 days in office. “So from there, the first 100 days, how are we going to kick in the plan that will get this economy back on the right track and really shore up the strategies that we need over in Iraq and Iran to win these wars?”

Palin added, “I think the momentum is on our side. Again, we’re hitting our stride and — the campaign itself and the message gathering that second wind that is needed right at this most appropriate time. I see nothing but good things in store on November 4th.”

Van Susteren and Palin also discussed uniting the country after the bruising election, national security issues, and illegal immigration.

Palin said she knows how to bring the nation together if she becomes Vice-President even though the election will be close and half the country will have voted for Barack Obama. She stressed that she would start “by not discrediting or invalidating someone because of a position” they have that is different than hers and that it is important to find “middle ground” on issues.

“I think it bodes well, too, where we’re going here with our family, that’s quite diverse, different politics all mixed into our family.” She said as she glanced at husband Todd, “That’s been a good, solid foundation for me, understanding how maybe we disagree on some of the particulars on an issue. We don’t have to be screaming at each other, though. Let’s find a way to work together and solve a problem. That’s what we’ve done in our family and in my businesses and also in governance.”

Van Susteren asked Palin if she was called on to fill the role of President and there was a national security emergency what her initial reaction would be.

“You assemble your national security team right then. And of course, everybody’s always going to be standing by, ready to assist,” Palin said. “But you do not blink when you have to make a decision to defend on the home front, to defend American lives.’

(more…)

AP

SPRINGFIELD, VA — John McCain took aim Saturday at remarks Barack Obama recently made in which the Democrat said his faith in America “was vindicated” when he won the Iowa caucuses.

“We learn more and more about Senator Obama. He said the other day that his primary victory ‘vindicated’ his faith in America,” McCain said to boos from more than 3,000 supporters at his rally in Northern Virginia today. “My country has never had to prove anything to me, my friends. I have always had faith in it and I have been humbled and honored to serve it. “

Reviving a line that Obama has used repeatedly since his victory in Hawkeye State last January, the Democratic nominee told his Des Moines rally Friday, that, “on the day of the Iowa caucus, my faith in the American people was vindicated and what you started here in Iowa has swept the nation.”

UPDATE–2:50pm ET: Obama campaign response:

“It’s pathetic that John McCain would take a statement Barack Obama has been making for a year about his faith in the American people and distort it to attack his patriotism,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. “Sadly, this is what we’ve come to expect from a desperate, dishonorable campaign that will say anything in a failed attempt to win this election.”

AP Photo-New Port Richey, FL

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL –Sarah Palin warned senior citizens in this Sunshine State crowd that Barack Obama is trying to fear monger among the elderly in Florida while the GOP ticket is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare.

“We’ll also keep our defining commitments to our senior citizens. Barack Obama goes around promising a new kind of politics, but then he comes here to Florida and he tries to exploit the fears and the worries about Social Security and Medicare to our retirees and that is the oldest and cheapest kind of politics there is.” Palin said, “And enough is enough of that. John McCain and I are committed to protecting and preserving Social Security and we will not cut a single Medicare benefit. And we are committed to controlling the costs of health care.”

She said her running mate is always truthful with senior citizens and warned her supporters that Barack Obama wants the federal government to take over the health care system.

“Now Barack Obama wants to have government take over health care, and does anyone serious believe, does anyone believe that’s going to make things cheaper? No. Florida, John McCain is a man who has always kept faith with America and he will always keep faith with America’s senior citizens. I promise you that,” Palin said.

Obama campaign spokesperson Tommy Vietor responded to Palin’s claim, “Governor Palin should try reading her running mate’s record before lying about Senator Obama. The fact is that John McCain’s support for George Bush’s scheme to gamble the retirement of our workers in the stock market is a bridge to nowhere for millions of Americans who count on a secure retirement.”

Although, Barack Obama consistently says he will protect gun owner’s rights, the Alaska governor told the crowd he would deny those rights.

“We believe in the forward movement of freedom, not in the constant expansion of government, and we believe that the virtues of freedom are still worth fighting for.” Palin said, “And though Barack Obama disagrees with some of that freedom, it includes the full rights and liberties under the second amendment. “

With November 4th three days away she asked the crowd in this toss-up state for their vote, “We are just 3 days away from the election and the time for choosin’ is near. Florida are you ready to help carry your state to victory? Are you ready to make John McCain the next president of the United States?”

AP Photo

Come on over boys. There’s plenty of room.

After the Obama campaign announced it’s removing reporters from the Washington Times, New York Post, and Dallas Morning News from the campaign plane, spokesman Bill Burton encouraged exiled media members to travel with Obama’s number 2, Joe Biden.

As a member of the Biden traveling press, I’d like to formally extend an invitation to our ousted brethren. In fact, I’d recommend the change of scenery. Traveling with the VP nominee has its advantages. For instance:

1) Space. There’s a lot of it. I mean, a LOT. The Obama campaign says they had to kick certain news outlets off the plane because of excessive demand for seats. On the Biden plane, every reporter has his own row, and there are even a few with nobody in them at all. And that’s AFTER we had reporters from the New York Times, Reuters, the Washington Post, and Time Magazine join up just in the last few days. Get in while you can still get the extra leg room.

2) Pressure. Minimal. Sure, the candidate may something crazy every now and again, but nobody’s really paying attention. Biden himself often says “Vice Presidents aren’t much,” and he’s even the second banana among the second banana candidates — Sarah Palin gets twice the media coverage. So if you’re sick of always having to work, work, work to come up with content for your editors, this is the plane for you.

3) Access. OK, so Biden won’t talk to you either, but according to CBS the Obama plane smells terrible, so I think Biden comes out ahead. (For the record, I always thought the Obama plane smelled like a combination of leather and Fabreeze, which is not at all unpleasant).

So to all you reporters feeling unloved and unwanted on the big boy plane, hop on board O Force 2. We’ve got a seat in the press file and an extra boxed lunch waiting for you.

LIMA, OH — The muzzle is off.

Joe Biden stopped by a local burger joint for late night take-out, but wound up taking 12 minutes of questions from national reporters who haven’t been able to talk to the Delaware Senator since a flight to Kalispell, MT on September 7th.

So did the gaffe-prone VP nominee feel pressure from the campaign not to talk to the press?

“If I’m muzzled, I don’t know,” Biden said. “I’ve done 200 interviews. I’ve been doing, you know, half a dozen to a dozen satellite feeds everyday. I’m doing shows, I mean, so, no one said anything to me about it.”

Biden told the small media throng inside the classic Lima diner that while he feels good, he expects a tight race.

This election is going to be a lot closer than everybody thinks it is,” Biden said. “I think it’s going to be close in Florida, it’s going to be close here, it’s going to be close in Missouri, I think it’s going to close - I don’t think it will be that close in Pennsylvania, I feel very good about Pennsylvania.”

“I think it’s going to be close in North Carolina, um, you know, Virginia feels really good but, you know, it ain’t till it happens,” he laughed. “We’re going everywhere. Montana, Arizona, I mean we’re everywhere we can be.”

McCain, he said, isn’t going away quietly. “One of the things I’ve admired about John, and I’ve considered him — why I’ve considered him a friend. He does, he never gives up,” said Biden. “I just hope when it’s over, win or lose, you walk up and you shake hands and say John, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

The VP nominee said he’s glad to hear that McCain is closing out his TV campaign with a positive ad. “I hope John ends this campaign with his strength,” he said. ” I think it’s just not a good thing to, win or lose it’s not a good thing to end in sort of this tough environment. No matter what.”

As for his relationship with the man he calls a good friend? “I hope it’s intact,” he said.” John and I haven’t had a chance to speak. We have not had a chance to speak.”

“I just think that, uh, I think – I believe when this is over, win or lose, John and I are likely to be around, you, in one form or another, in one job or another, and I hope, uh, my hope is we can work together. Because folks, it sounds corny, you cannot do this stuff unless you start to get a little purple here. You can’t make these big decisions. I mean, you need, you need cooperation, no matter how.”

AP Photo-York, PA

HARRISBURG, PA – Sarah Palin’s bus tour throughout Pennsylvania made stops in Latrobe, Somerset, New Paris, and York so far. In Somerset, joined by her husband Todd she went on a tour of Leiss Tool and Die Co., which manufactures metal parts and does stamping and welding. Palin chatted with workers about the technology and the need for more vocational training.

Her next stop was New Paris where she visited Boyer Orchards, a large family-run apple orchard. While she toured the facility, her 7-year-old daughter Piper dressed as a snow princess for Halloween gave out candy to the rope line.

Palin met with the owners and they began discussing illegal immigration—an issue that was a very hot topic in the primary season, but Palin has not mentioned once on the stump since her selection.

Orchard owner Matt Boyer told Palin that he relies on migrant work for their very short picking season and they’ve had migrant workers for 30 years.

“Now it’s getting increasingly difficult to find legal help. People don’t understand this immigration issue. We need workers, we can’t get anybody, any local person to help us, its hard work, we tell people about our orchard and it’s a lot of hands on manual work.” Boyer told Palin, “It’s our key issue facing commercial agriculture is the immigration issue. People don’t understand that if we lose these workers all the handpicked foods gonna be coming in from oversees. It’s really critical that, it’s a national security interest that we grow our own food in the United States.”

Boyer said that he has made friends with his workers even calling them his “brothers.”

“People don’t understand that these guys, they don’t want amnesty. They don’t want citizenship. They just want to come in, and a guest worker program, make some money and get back home.”

Palin responded by saying her running mate has discussed immigration reform and the challenges it presents.

“John McCain has talked about that comprehensive approach to the immigration challenges that the country faces and dealing humanely with those who are here to work.”

McCain came under fire when he supported legislation for comprehensive immigration reform, which paved the way for illegal immigrants to become citizens. He has since backed down from that stance and believes the first step should be to secure the border.

After the tour she joined Piper on the rope line outside and answered what she thought Pennsylvanians need to do now for her ticket.

“Voter turnout of course is key. Got to be talking to your friends and your neighbors, letting ‘em know that this are in Pennsylvania also can kind of counter some of the other areas, so we need you to show up and vote.”

Watch Piper handing out candy below:

done

AP Photo

YORK, PA –-At a Halloween day rally here standing behind pumpkins carved in the likeness of her and John McCain, Sarah Palin went after the Democratic nominee calling his tax plan “so phony” and said it is “starting to unravel.”

She cited  Bill Richardson’s comments from this morning–where he told a radio station that there is going to be a tax cut for people making under $120,000 instead of the $200,000 threshold Obama cites in his tax plan–as evidence of the unraveling.

“First, remember, it was defined as those making under $250,000 a year.” Palin said, “And just this morning, Gov. Bill Richardson, a top surrogate for the Obama campaign, he who is working so hard to get Obama elected, Richardson said Obama’s tax plan would define middle class as $120,000 a year and under.  So now, we’re down to less than half the original income level and, just give it a little more time, and Barack Obama will be back to raising taxes on folks earning $42,000 a year.”

Richardson’s spokesperson, Pahl Shipley said that he misspoke and meant to say 250,000 dollars, which is still incorrect because under Obama’s plan only those making under $200,000 will have there taxes cut. Those people who fall between $200,000 and $250,000 will see no tax cut or tax increase.

The Alaska governor—who is in her last 4 day push before Election Day ––said now is a bad time to raise taxes on any Americans and mentioned the nation’s GDP number for the first time.

“Just yesterday, we learned that America’s GDP actually fell in the third quarter of this year, and that confirms what we already know, and that’s that our economy right now is shrinking. This is the worst possible time to raise taxes, but Barack Obama still wants to.” Palin said, “Sen. Obama, see, has an ideological commitment to higher taxes.”

Her next stop on her Pennsylvania bus tour is going trick or treating with her daughter Piper-dressed as a snow princess for Halloween.

KETTERING, OH — It’s getting scary on the Biden campaign trail.

With Halloween just around the corner, the VP nominee’s wife Jill engaged in some family fright after introducing her husband at a rally for 1500 in westeron Ohio. 

After passing Jill as he came on stage, Biden laughed upon approaching the podium. “I tell you what, some thing things never change,” he said. “I probably shouldn’t let the press know this, but you know, Jill walked back up here a moment ago you know what she did? She put a little rat on the thing here!”

“Everything’s Halloween with this lady!” Biden laughed. “Happy Halloween.” Turning to his wife, he said “You are bad!”

But it’s not rubber rats that scare Joe Biden — it’s Republicans. 

“Look. I know it’s Halloween. I know its Halloween. But John McCain dressed as an agent of change is a costume that just does not fit,” Biden said — repeating a line that’s been a stump speech staple for weeks. 

And as for those scary Republican attacks on Barack Obama? “The Republicans have gone way over the top in my view, calling Barack Obama every name in the book. And the problem will get worse in the next three and a half to four days,” Biden said.

“If you look at who he is, what he’s done, and what he plans to do for this country. If you work for us in the closing days and choose hope over fear, after this Tuesday, the very critics will be calling him something else. They will be calling him the 44th president of the United States of America. Our commander in chief, Barack Obama.

NEWARK, DE — Favorite Son Joe Biden packed the quad at his alma mater on Friday, where the former Blue Hen made sure current students know just how much influence the school has had this election cycle. 

“The University of Delaware didn’t just shape me in this historic presidential campaign, Ladies and gentlemen. This may be the first time in president campaign history that our campaign manager, a Delawarean named David Plouffe, who was in the political science department, a proud Blue Hen, is managing one campaign, and my friend John McCain’s campaign, his chief strategist is a guy named Steve Schmidt who also attended the University of Delaware,” Biden said. 

“Let that be a cautionary tale: Blue Hens can go astray occasionally.”

Why hold a rally in Delaware? The state isn’t remotely in question, expected to fall easily into the Obama camp. But while Biden was forbidden from mentioning it — since the rally was organized and paid for by the Obama campaign — he’s still on the ballot as a senate candidate, and aides say that in addition to talking up other Democrats up for statewide office, the long-time lawmaker wanted to remind voters in the state that he’s still around.

But there’s an Obama/Biden rationale for the rally as well. The Northern Delaware location falls under the nearby Philadelphia media market, where Obama is hoping to offset McCain’s expected strength in Pennsylvania’s more rural areas. Biden aso urged students to volunteer for Obama in the neighboring state. 

While there was a good deal of reminiscing about his time at the school in the early 60’s, Biden didn’t let the crowd go without a few digs at his GOP rivals.  

“I believe that John McCain through the conduct of this campaign unfortunately, continues to think that the way you win is to divide,” he said. “I believe Barack Obama will revitalize the middle class, the backbone of the nation. I believe John McCain is stubbornly clinging to the failed policies of the past because if he acknowledges the failure, what does he talk about?”

“I believe Barack Obama will restore our standing in the world, but I know John McCain continues to be determined to follow the policy of going it alone.”

“Barack Obama will remind us that we are, unlike our opponents continue to divide us, Sarah Palin and others talking about being in the pro American part of the one, of the country, as if all America is not pro America. Ladies and gentlemen, Barack will remind us we are one nation under God.”

Biden heads for an actual swing state next, holding two rallies in Western Ohio to wrap up the day.

AP Photo-Latrobe, PA

LATROBE, PA –Sarah Palin is doing a bus tour of Pennsylvania today making her first stop here before heading east across this must-win state that the GOP ticket is trailing in.

Although Election Day is only 4 days away it is still Halloween for the Palin kids and the Alaska governor introduced her family at this rally in an airplane hanger, “I’m happy to have up here also Piper and it’s Halloween so she’s the snow princess today. She’s just been dying to get to wear that costume and Willow and we have Trig with us also.”

7-year-old Piper is decked out in a full snow princess winter white dress with a tiara, and curls—clearly ecstatic to be dressed up for Halloween and by her mother’s side. Palin’s 6 month old son, Trig is outfitted in a very appropriate elephant costume.

Palin acknowledged that we are only four days away from November 4th and she asked the “Casey Democrats,” supporters of the much-loved former Pennsylvania governor Robert Casey who was a pro-life Democrat, to vote for her ticket, “And with your help, and with the help of the good Casey Democrats here in Pennsylvania too, that’s the spirit that John McCain and I will be able to bring to Washington.”

Former Chicago Bears coach and Pennsylvanian, Mike Ditka, introduced Palin and gave a hearty endorsement of the Republican ticket–and the crowd a pep talk.

“I’m not here because I’m a Republican, which I am, and I’m not here because I’m a conservative, which I am. I’m here because I am an American. It’s time in this country you put party lines on the backburner and you put your country first.” Ditka said, “When I was growing up, it was back in 1963. Then John Kennedy became president-he made a statement: ‘ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.’ Now, it seems to be just the opposite. This is the land of opportunity. It’s not a land of handouts. If you’re willing to work, you can find a job. If you’re willing to work, you can find a job. I want to say how proud I am because I think Sarah Palin epitomizes all the good things, all the good values, of this country. She’s a wife, she’s a mother, she’s a hockey mom, she’s a part-time coach. She was a great leader and is a great leader in the state of Alaska, and she will make a great vice president of the United States, Sarah Palin.”

Damien Lavera, spokesperson for the DNC was quick to respond to Palin’s first stop on her Halloween tour across the Keystone state.

“Two of the least convincing Halloween costumes this year have to be Sarah Palin and John McCain dressing up like champions of the working class.”

AP Photo-Latrobe, PA