St. Paul, Minn.–

Governor Sarah Palin did a walk-through of the Xcel Center stage this morning. After not being seen by the press since before she landed in the Twin Cities she surprised the morning shows by walking up to the podium to practive her speech.

Flanked by McCain campaign manager Rick Davis and McCain advisor Nicolle Wallace she tested audio and practiced reading the very top of her speech.

Wearing a beige skirt suit and her hair up, Palin avoided most questions except how she was feeling to which she answered, “I feel great. I’m excited!”

Initially, she looked passed the press crowded below the stage at the teleprompter and ignored questions including where she has been the last 2 days.

As for any clue to her speech tonight the first sentence and a half was on the teleprompter:

“Delegates and alternates I’m pleased to welcome you back. Our thoughts and…

Fox News has also learned that Palin and Senator Joe Lieberman met with members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday. AIPAC lobbies on behalf of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The meeting lasted between 25 and 45 minutes and she reinforced her support for Senator McCain’s Israel policy. AIPAC spokesperson Josh Block described the meeting, “We had a good productive discussion on the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and we were pleased that Gov. Palin expressed her deep, personal
commitment to the safety and well-being of Israel.” Block said, “She also expressed her support for special friendship between the two democracies and said she would work to deepen the ties between the United States and Israel.”

Block added that they were “pleased that both parties have selected four pro-Israel candidates.”

Besides preparing for tonight’s speech, Palin will greet Senator McCain on the tarmac when he arrives in the Twin Cities today.

St. Paul, Minn.–

With Hurricane Gustav about to slam into the Gulf Coast, the GOP is making drastic changes to the convention, which is slated to start here tomorrow.

John McCain addressed the press via satellite from St. Louis where he is campaigning today and was joined by RNC chairman Mike Duncan and McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. The convention will not be canceled or postponed, but there will be serious changes starting with Day One of the convention. Instead of a whole evening of speakers praising their almost-nominee and hitting Barack Obama tomorrow’s events will be abbreviated. McCain said it was “a time for action” and convention-goers should take off their “Republican hats” and put on their “American hats” to bring the country together while Gustav wreaks havoc on the Gulf coast, “This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join with 3 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It’s a time for actions.”

Davis said that each day’s convention activities would be announced that day and he did not talk about specifics for later in the week. Tomorrow the convention will open at 3pm central time, but it will only consist of “essential business” which includes electing officers, adopting the Party rules and the Party platform and it is expected to conclude around 5:30pm.

McCain was briefed on the impending storm today in Jackson, Mississippi and he was clear that Gustav will not be another Katrina with regards to government mishandling of the tragedy, “I can also tell you the level of cooperation between the federal government, the state governments, the local governments in Louisiana and in the other effected states is excellent, is excellent. And I have every expectation that we will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated, in fact I’m very optimistic that we will see a degree of cooperation and effort on behalf of any victims of any one who’s lives are touched by this great natural disaster that may be continue to do, as Governor Haley Barbour said the other day, he said today, ‘Pray for the best and prepare for the worst’ and I think that’s what we are doing as nation.”

Rick Davis, McCain campaign manager spoke next and said that they had hoped for a more traditional convention, but events have “conspired to do otherwise.” He pressed that no decisions have been made post 5:30 tomorrow.

The campaign is flying delegates from Gulf Coast states home and some may even return to the convention with their families. The first charter left today, but Davis said they would continue all week. They also have a committee of delegates from the Gulf Coast states that have been giving advice to the campaign on what changes should be made to the convention. There will be an information center set up to brief the delegates on those changes and the progression and damage of the storm.

He repeated that tomorrow will be business only with no political rhetoric and that they are working on fundraising for people who will be affected. They will tap delegates and others at the convention for donations and Davis pressed McCain’s commitment to raising funds for storm victims, “We are working with the delegations, the finance people who are here. Our own finance committee that is in attendance and many other concerned individuals to do what we can to raise money during the course of the week for various charities that operate in the Gulf Coast region,” Davis told reporters, “Something we have a late start on I would say but it’s something that the Senator is completely committed to by using all the generous people that are here for a political convention and see if we can turn them into charitable fundraisers on behalf of those who will be affected by the hurricane. “

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Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor responds to Davis statement:

“This is a race about big challenges-a slumping economy, a broken foreign policy, and an energy crisis for everyone but the oil companies. Barack Obama in no way believes that the McCain campaign is using race as an issue, but he does believe they’re using the same old low-road politics to distract voters from the real issues in this campaign, and those are the issues he’ll continue to talk about.

RACINE, WI — It has gotten ugly.

The McCain campaign is accusing Sen. Obama of playing the “race card” for stating yesterday that the presumptive Republican nominee was engaging in fear tactics and xenophobia.

“Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck. It’s divisive, negative, shameful and wrong,” said McCain Campaign Manager Rick Davis Thursday, citing multiple statements by Obama yesterday.

“So what they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he’s not patriotic enough. He’s got a funny name. You know, he doesn’t look like all those other Presidents on those dollar bills, you know. He’s risky. That’s essentially the argument they’re making,” Obama told supporters in Springfield, MO Wednesday in response to the tv spot McCain released yesterday.

In the new ad, McCain compares his Democratic rival to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in an attempt to paint him as an empty suit and a vapid celebrity who lacks the experience and skills for the White House.

McCain Senior Adviser Steve Schmidt tells Fox that the campaign felt an “honor-bound duty to respond” to the Obama comments adding that “a lie unrebutted can become truth.” McCain was the victim of racial dirty tricks during the 2000 presidential primary when allies of the Bush campaign spread a rumor that McCain’s adopted Bangladeshi daughter was actually his illegitimate black child.

Schmidt said the campaign learned a lesson from the 2000 experience. “You must respond instantaneously and with all you got,” he said.

No response yet from Camp Obama.

done

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO — Sen. McCain admitted today that some recent criticism of his campaign’s performance has been “justified,” but said that the recent elevation of Senior Adviser Steve Schmidt to oversee day-to-day operations is just part the campaign’s transition for the general election.

The presumptive GOP nominee commented on the campaign’s new leadership structure for the first time during an interview Thursday morning with Fox News’ Carl Cameron.

“We’ve had a very great expansion in our campaign and obviously we’re trying to have organizations set up and working in every state,” McCain said, noting that Campaign Manager Rick Davis will remain in his position and maintain overall responsibility. “Steve has been an integral part of our campaign for a long time and he’s just been taking over some more of the responsibilities…all of us thought, including Rick, that it would be better to give Steve some of the more responsibilities, as we’ve given other people more responsibilities as the campaign has expanded.”

Schmidt returned to headquarters to assume greater day-to-day responsibility more than a month ago but officially took over his new role as the political equivalent of a COO this week. The campaign has come under criticism in recent months, even from allies, for an inconsistent message, mismanagement and poorly planned and timed events.

For his part, a candid McCain said his campaign has not been perfect but added that it will be ramping it’s effort going into the final stretch.

“We need to keep doing what we’re doing, only do it a lot harder,” McCain told Cameron. “I’m happy with where we’ve come. I’m happy with where we are. We have been declared dead many times. There’s been much criticism, some of it justified, from the media but somehow we seem to stay in the race and we will stay in…I think I’ll be the underdog right up until a minute before the polls close in California.”

McCain reiterated today that he feels most comfortable campaigning coming from behind, as he did for most of the GOP primary.

“I think though I do best as the underdog and we are within the margin of error in most polls, certainly not all, but I’m confident that that’s when I do best is when I’m the underdog,” he added.

SAVANNAH, GA — Facing repeated questions Monday about campaign transparency and adviser ties to lobbyists, the usually free-wheeling John McCain showed almost machine-like message discipline.

Below is a taste from the press conference this afternoon in Savannah:

Question: What was the impetus for the new lobbying policy?

McCain: “We have enacted the most comprehensive and most transparent policy concerning lobbyist activities and I challenge Senator Obama to adopt a similar policy.”

Question: Is this an inside-the-beltway issue? Do the American people care?

McCain: “It’s not so much that as we wanted to make sure there was an effective and comprehensive and transparent policy towards lobbyist, the most comprehensive and transparent of any presidential campaign in history, and I challenge Senator Obama to adopt the same policy.”

Question: Why did this policy take so long and are you confident we will see no more departures from your campaign?

McCain: “We have enacted the most comprehensive and transparent policy of any presidential campaign in history and I challenge Senator Obama to adopt the same policy.”

All told, by the end of the media availability McCain had described his new lobbyist policy as “comprehensive” seven times, “transparent” five times and challenged Obama to adopt his policy three times. The campaign is currently vetting all staff or lobbying ties after adopting a new policy last week that:

-no staffer can be a registered lobbyist or receive compensation from a lobbying firm.
-part-time volunteers must disclose ties to lobbyists
-no staffer can participate in a 527 or other independent group
-campaign staffers promise not to lobby a future McCain administration.

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NEW YORK—

Two ads were released today featuring Senator John McCain, but the candidate approved only one. The ad, “Leading” will air in Iowa and aims to play on the still-ongoing battle for the Democratic nomination:

“While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama argue and fight with each other, John McCain leads.”

The commercial says that the presumptive Republican nominee will “fight against wasteful government spending,” advocates a gas tax holiday, and explains how he wants his health care plan to provide tax credits.

Click here to watch the ad:

The other ad is sponsored by MoveOn.org and is a scathing attack on McCain’s senior advisor, Charlie Black. Black has come under fire during the campaign for his lobbyist history, but today McCain was adamant that Black and campaign manager Rick Davis are no longer practicing lobbyists.

This week the McCain campaign instituted a new vetting procedure to find out if any employees have lobbyist histories, particularly if they have lobbied for any foreign governments. In recent days, three McCain advisors have left the campaign because of embarrassing revelations of work outside the campaign. Newsweek revealed that two aides had lobbied for the military junta in Myanmar in 2002 and just yesterday another staffer left because he was also working for a 527 group opposing the Democratic candidates.

The ad reveals Black’s lobbyist history and calls for him to resign. The commercial says Black “made millions lobbying for the world’s worst tyrants” and names some of them including Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, and Jonas Savimbi of Angola—over very graphic images.  The ad was sent to Move On members and concludes with asking members to, “Call John McCain and tell him to fire Charlie Black,” and includes the phone number for McCain headquarters.

Click here to watch the ad:

Washington, DC — Sen. John McCain repeated his call Thursday for supporters to conduct a ”respectful campaign” after the latest incident in which one of his surrogates ridiculed the personal characteristics of his Democratic rivals.

Standing in for McCain at a Nevada GOP county convention this weekend, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff reportedly mocked Obama’s family background–referring to his two foreign fathers–and said that “when Hillary gets the call at 3 a.m., the call is, ‘Do you know where your husband is?”

McCain distanced himself from the remarks Thursday, arguing that the GOP will have a better chance of victory in November if it sticks to the issues.

“I can’t prevent or control rhetoric that people use–that are members of my party. But I have been very, very clear that we need a respectful campaign and the American people want it,” McCain said outside his U.S. Senate office this morning.  “We certainly don’t need any impugning of character, integrity or anything else in this campaign. So I again urge Republicans and anybody else, to just–lets show respect and make Americans proud of this campaign…frankly, it will enhance our chance of winning if people say, ‘look, those people are running a respectful campaign.’”

It is the fourth time in as many weeks that McCain has had to rebuke a conservative supporter for going overboard rhetorically, having recently condemned the Tennessee Republican Party, radio talk show host Bill Cunningham and Iowa Congressman Steve King.

McCain’s comments come in the wake of a memo circulated by Campaign Manager Rick Davis this week that calls upon supporters to “follow John’s lead and run a respectful campaign focused on the issues.”

“Overheated rhetoric and personal attacks on our opponents distract from the big differences between John McCain’s vision for the future of our nation and the Democrats’. This campaign is about John McCain: his vision, leadership, experience, courage, service to his country and ability to lead as commander in chief from day one,” Davis wrote. “Throughout his life John McCain has held himself to the highest standards and he will continue to run a respectful campaign based on the issues. We expect that all supporters, surrogates and staff will hold themselves to similarly high standards when they are representing the campaign.”