The Trail

Sarah Palin inherited this jet when elected Alaska governor in 2006. She attempted to sell it on eBay, but it was bought by a campaign contributor. (By David J. Sheakley -- Associated Press)

When Palin sold the jet, that left her with access to a 26-year-old turboprop aircraft that was due for an overhaul. Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan said he ordered the airplane rehabilitated and offered to buy or lease a new plane in the interim. Ultimately, the governor waited until the older plane was overhauled.

-- Anne E. Kornblut, James V. Grimaldi and Alice Crites

'ABSOLUTELY NO DISCUSSION'

Palin on 'Oprah'? Not During the Campaign

Is the McCain campaign playing politics -- with Oprah Winfrey?

A Drudge report item surfaced on Friday about Winfrey's programming plans, saying members of her staff are divided over having Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, as a guest.

The rumor seemed designed to force Winfrey's hand and call her out as a partisan. Winfrey -- whose largely female audience is a prime target for both parties -- took heat during the Democratic primary season for backing Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Winfrey swiftly knocked the report down, calling it "categorically untrue."

"There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show," she said in a statement. "At the beginning of this presidential campaign, when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the

decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the

candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

-- Anne E. Kornblut