CUDAHY, WI — Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden told firefighters in this suburban Milwaukee town that the two presidential candidates are likely to sound very different in their foreign policy debate tonight — particularly on homeland security.

“Tonight we’re going to hear a debate on American foreign policy. We’re going to hear a debate on our national security. We’re going to hear it from Mississippi,” he said — just minutes after John McCain announced that he would, in fact, participate in that debate.

“But I want to tell you a little preview. The fundamental difference between John and Barack, and me and John, is this: if you’re talking about security, it starts at home.

Biden said McCain has opposed everything from stronger port security and more local cops to providing first responders with interoperable radios.

“The list goes on. Virtually none of it’s been done, nationally,” he said. “So folks, what’s the deal? Does it mean John, who voted against those things, does it mean John who voted against them doesn’t care about you? No.”

“It’s about what John and the conservative right believe is the responsibility of the federal government vs local responsibility,” Biden continued. “They argue that whether or not there is an attack — If someone were to set off a dirty bomb at the Brewers game tonight, they say that is a local problem. The local government, the mayor of Milwaukee, the local fire service. The local police. Ladies and gentlemen, to me that is a federal responsibility.”

“I’m absolutely convinced John McCain wants to do away with crime. I’m absolutely convinced John McCain would put his body between you and a terrorist. I’m absolutely convinced John McCain feels as deeply as I do about protecting the homeland,” Biden said. But he votes against funding it.”

Biden, as you might imagine, feels strongly that that’s the wrong way to go. “I’m sick and tired of this neoconervative malarkey that somehow the federal government doesn’t have responsibility to this local fire hall,” he exclaimed.

“I want you to understand. This debate, it’s a big deal debate. It’s about a philosophy. It’s not about who cares about you,” he said. “You hear this foreign policy debate tonight between Barack Obama and John. Think beyond whether or not John was a hero, because he was and is. We need more than a good soldier, we need a wise leader. We need a wise leader.”

NEW YORK CITY– It was a short respite from what has become a vicious back and forth on the campaign trail of late as the candidates declared a tacit 24 hour cease fire Thursday.

McCain began the day in Shanksville, PA where he participated in a memorial ceremony for the victims of UA Flight 93.

In brief remarks he declared that he may owe his life to the heroism of the passengers aboard that plane since a likely target for the jetliner was the US Capitol.

“No American living then should ever forget the heroism that occurred in the skies above this field on September 11, 2001. It is believed that the terrorists on United Flight 93 may have intended to crash the airplane into the United States Capitol. Hundreds if not thousands of people would have been at work in that building when that fateful moment occurred, and been destroyed along with a beautiful symbol of our freedom. They and, very possibly I, owe our lives to the passengers who summoned the courage and love necessary to deny our depraved and hateful enemies their terrible triumph,” McCain said during the memorial ceremony for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 on a windswept hill in Western Pennsylvania.

“I have witnessed great courage and sacrifice for America’s sake, but none greater than the sacrifice of those good people who grasped the gravity of the moment, understood the threat, and decided to fight back at the cost of their lives.”

He then flew to New York where he joined Barack Obama for a short joint remembrance at Ground Zero. The two rivals met with a few dozen victims’ families and first responders and paid respects to the victims at the reflection pool.

“On 9/11, Americans across our great country came together to stand with the families of the victims, to donate blood, to give to charity, and to say a prayer for our country. Let us renew that spirit of service and that sense of common purpose. Let us remember that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 are still at large, and must be brought to justice. Let us resolve to defeat terrorist networks, defend the American homeland, stand up for the enduring American values that we cherish, and seek a new birth of freedom at home and around the world,” Obama said in a statement.

PARMA, OH — Joe Biden paid tribute to first responders at a small American Legion hall outside Cleveland, thanking firefighters and police officers for putting their lives on the line

“I want to say upfront here this is not about politics today,” he said at the outset. “This is about remembering our fallen heroes, and remembering that there are a whole lot of people like the people I’m sitting with here today and many of you who will and are ready to, God forbid, respond to anything that would happen.”

“I think part of today is remembering not only what we thought on 9/11, but reminding Americans that every single day, in acts as ordinary as they are profound,  you suit up. You put on equipment.  You get on the back of that ladder. You get in the back of that vehicle.  And you head out not knowing what you’re going to find.”

Biden, who often meets with cops and firefighters, calling them his political base, also described what he was doing that fateful day 7 years ago.

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Both the Republican and Democratic candidates are expected to speak at a forum on “service and civic engagement” on 9/11, hosted by Columbia University. Today, their campaigns issued a joint statement announcing the two competitors would visit Ground Zero in Manhattan together, seven years after the 9/11 attacks.

“All of us came together on 9/11 - not as Democrats or Republicans – but as Americans. In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils - we were united as one American family. On Thursday, we will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones. We will also give thanks for the firefighters, police, and emergency responders who set a heroic example of selfless service, and for the men and women who serve today in defense of the freedom and security that came under attack in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” the statement read.

In the midst of what’s becoming a heated campaign, this is the second joint statement issued from the campaigns - the first announced the presidential debate schedule.

In his third Florida TV ad in as many days, Rudy Giuliani is stressing his NYC bio and leadership background. The spot, “It Matters,” is set to air in the West Palm Beach market, home to a large population of ex-New Yorkers.

Script after jump…

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Mt. Pleasant, IA — Rudy Giuliani’s closing argument to voters is increasingly revolving around one issue—the war on terrorism. While he has spent most of the year talking up his record as New York City mayor and time as US Attorney and at the US Justice Department, he has turned to his pet issue in the last couple weeks amid slumping poll numbers.

At a town hall meeting at Iowa Wesleyan College Saturday night, Giuliani spoke for about 16 minutes before taking questions from attendees—devoting the first 14 minutes solely to what he refers to as the “terrorists war on us.” For some perspective, here is a quick count of the words (stated or referenced) he used in the first 14 minutes to make his case:

Terrorists War on Us/War: 21
Islamic Terrorism/Terrorists: 21
Military/soldiers: 14
Offense: 12
Defense: 7
September 11: 6
Security/secure: 4
Bin Laden: 2

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Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Calling September 11 “a part of my life that helps define me,” Rudy Giuliani attempted to fend off potential critics of his latest TV spot that invokes 9/11. The comments at a press conference this morning.

“It is part of my life. It is part of my life that helps to define me. It isn’t the only part of my life. But it would seem to me that maybe the critics want you to, like, remove a part of your life in which people have every right to draw judgments about how you would handle a crisis, how you would handle a difficult situation, how you would handle terrorism,” he said. “I think that no matter what ads you run, somebody is going to criticize you. I think, if you look at all the ads we’ve run, this is very proportionate emphasis on something that was an important part of my life but by no means my whole life.”

He also added that Hillary Clinton and President Bush have used images from 9/11 in their own ads in the past.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Rudy Giuliani is turning to his trump card as he seeks to regain momentum in the GOP primary race—9/11.

In the campaign’s latest TV ad, “Freedom,” which will begin airing nationally Friday, Giuliani uses imagery from September 11 to compare the current generation to the “greatest generation.”

Transcript/More Details after Jump

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