Female voters are moving in big numbers to the Democratic candidate, writes Denis Staunton
SARAH PALIN and Joe Biden face off tonight (2am tomorrow Irish time) in a vice-presidential debate in St Louis, Missouri, as new polls show the Democratic ticket extending its national lead and making gains in key states.
Mr Biden returned to Washington yesterday to vote in the Senate, along with Barack Obama and John McCain, on a $700 billion bailout of troubled financial institutions. Ms Palin remained at Mr McCain's Arizona ranch preparing for tonight's debate, an important test for the Alaska governor following a series of uncertain performances in television interviews.
Mr McCain snapped at a group of Iowa journalists yesterday when a member of the editorial board of the Des Moines Register suggested that voters were concerned about his running-mate's lack of experience.
"Really? I haven't detected that in the polls, I haven't detected that among the base," Mr McCain said. "If there's a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn't like her, good luck. I don't dismiss him. I think the American people have overwhelmingly shown their approval."
Later, Mr McCain told National Public Radio that he could imagine turning as president to Ms Palin for advice on foreign policy.
"I've turned to her advice many times in the past," he said. "I can't imagine turning to Senator Obama or Senator Biden, because they've been wrong. They were wrong about Iraq, they were wrong about Russia. I've already turned to Gov Palin, particularly on energy issues, and I've appreciated her background and knowledge on that and many other issues."
Ms Palin said yesterday that she did not believe criticism of her was sexist and she told conservative interviewer Hugh Hewitt earlier this week that she was reluctant to pick fights with the media.
"I'm going to take those shots and those pop quizzes and just say that's okay, those are good testing grounds," she said, "and they can continue on in that mode.
"That's good, that makes somebody work even harder. It makes somebody be even clearer and more articulate in their positions. So really I don't fight it, I invite it."
Ms Palin gave the Republican ticket a major boost among women after her selection as vice-presidential candidate, but a new Time poll shows female voters moving in big numbers to Mr Obama.
The Democrat is now 17 points ahead among women, by 55 per cent to Mr McCain's 35 per cent, according to the poll. The candidates were effectively tied among women immediately after Ms Palin's nomination.
The Time poll gives Mr Obama a seven-point national lead, as does a new poll from the Pew Research Centre, although a Washington Post/ABC News poll puts the Democrat just four points ahead.
Most worryingly for the Republicans, Mr Obama has been gaining ground in important swing states that Mr McCain must win if he is to prevail next month.
Mr Obama is now ahead in Florida, Ohio, Colorado and Virginia - states that President George Bush won in 2004 - and he has expanded his lead in Pennsylvania and Michigan, both key targets for Mr McCain.
Both presidential candidates focused on the economy ahead of last night's Senate vote, with Mr Obama insisting that the bailout of financial institutions must be accompanied by more accountability on Wall Street.
"When I am president, financial institutions will do their part and pay their share and American taxpayers will never again have to put their money on the line to pay for the greed and irresponsibility of Wall Street," he told 15,000 supporters in Wisconsin. "That's a pledge that I'll make to you today, and it's one that I'll keep as president of the United States."
Mr Obama urged politicians from both parties in Congress to move swiftly to approve the financial rescue plan.
"To the Democrats and Republicans who have opposed this plan, I say - step up to the plate and do what's right for the country, even if it's not popular, because the time to act is now," he said.
Mr McCain said that, although the bailout bill was still not ideal, the measure introduced in the Senate was an improvement over that rejected this week by the House of Representatives. "If we fail to act, the gears of our economy will grind to a halt," he said.