In Runup to Debate, Sarah Palin Turns Up Anger
By Richard Sisk
Daily News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON—With John McCain running interference, Sarah Palin went back for a rematch with Katie Couric Monday while bemoaning the perils of "gotcha journalism."
Palin is toughening up in the runup to her debate Thursday with Democratic veep hopeful Joe Biden. She headed to McCain's Arizona hideaway for debate camp. Biden's sparring partner for debate rehearsals is Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who, like Palin, is a former beauty queen.
In the "CBS Evening News" interview, Palin tried to clear up the seeming policy disagreement with McCain after her statement last week that the U.S. should launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan to go after terrorists.
But first McCain interjected that "Gov. Palin and I agree that you don't announce that you're going to attack another country."
After some back-and-forth between McCain and Couric, Palin said: "Well, as Sen. McCain is suggesting here, also, never would our administration get out there and show our cards to terrorists, in this case, to enemies and let them know what the game plan was, not when that could ultimately adversely affect a plan to keep America secure."
Palin and McCain complained that it was "gotcha journalism" when she was videotaped talking about attacking Pakistan to voters in a Philadelphia pizzeria.
Before the interview, Palin got in some before-the-bell shots at Biden.
"I've never met him," a gleeful Palin told a Columbus, Ohio, rally, but she dissed Biden as a Washington relic who talks too much. "I've been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in second grade," Palin said.
Team Biden shot back that "Gov. Palin may be one heck of a debater, but the campaign can't defend the claims they're making on the trail."
Palin's handlers were close-mouthed about who would play the role of Biden in debate prep at McCain's ranch near Sedona in the Red Rocks country of Arizona. Biden is rehearsing in Wilmington, Del., with Granholm, a Democrat in her second term as Michigan governor.
The pressure is on Palin for a strong performance Thursday night in St. Louis after her approval rating slipped and a conservative columnist suggested that McCain should think about dropping her from the ticket.
"My cringe reflex was exhausted" after Palin's puzzling first interviews with Couric last week, wrote Kathleen Parker.
Rob Adams, the Democratic mayor of Sedona (pop. 11,000), said the town also was a good setting for debate prep. "We love to argue here," he said.
The moose-hunting Palin might also want to try her luck with the local game, Adams said. "There's plenty of elk hunting around here," he said.
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