The Trail

In a speech at the convention, Thompson attacked Obama's economic plan, saying that "you don't lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history."

Referring to Bush's speech praising McCain, Biden cast them as the Minnesota Twins. "George Bush said, quote, 'The man we need is John McCain,' " Biden said. "John has earned this endorsement; he's voted with him 90 percent of the time."

And Biden criticized a remark made by Davis on Tuesday in an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors. Davis said: "This election is not about issues -- this election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

"Not about issues!" Biden said. "That means to them this election is not about whether you're able to scrape up the tuition money to send your kid to college."

Biden, on the third day of a swing targeting older white and working-class voters, delighted in deepening his voice as he mimicked Thompson, whom he referred to as "Red October," after one of the movies in which the former senator acted.

"Fred went up there and said, 'Well, the Democrats are going to raise your taxes,' " Biden said in a low tone as the crowd laughed. "I don't know why we need to give another tax break to Exxon Mobil."

-- Perry Bacon Jr.

PALIN AFFAIR ALLEGED

McCain Campaign Calls Enquirer Story 'Disgraceful'

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- John McCain's top strategist Wednesday today denounced a report in the National Enquirer, hours after it was published, as "disgraceful."

"The smearing of the Palin family must end," spokesman Steve Schmidt said in an e-mail distributed to journalists.

The Enquirer, which exposed John Edwards's extramarital affair, cited unnamed sources in alleging that the Alaska governor had an affair with a business associate of her "fisherman husband," Todd Palin -- the story doesn't say when -- and that he found out and severed relations with him.

"The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Governor Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false," Schmidt said. "It is a vicious lie. Governor Palin is the most popular governor in the country. She is a proven leader, an accomplished executive, a champion for ethics reform, and a fighter against corruption. The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it."

The mainstream media might well have ignored the unsubstantiated allegation, as they did for eight months in the Edwards saga. But the McCain's team quick response in defending his running mate had the effect, intentionally or otherwise, of giving the story more prominence.

Schmidt, who told The Washington Post on Tuesday that the news media are "on a mission to destroy" Palin, lumped together the media and tabloids in his blast against the Enquirer.

-- Howard Kurtz