The Trail

RALLYING IN RICHMOND

Palin Calls Obama 'Another Big Spender'

RICHMOND -- Sarah Palin continued to attack Barack Obama on Monday, speaking to a crowd of about 20,000 outside Richmond International Raceway, and she promised that she and John McCain would help revive the U.S. economy if elected.

Suggesting that the Democratic candidate would undermine a possible American victory in Iraq -- "Just once I would like to hear Barack Obama say he'd like America to win" -- the Republican vice presidential nominee said Obama would jeopardize the economy further by raising taxes and expanding the federal government.

"America, we cannot just afford another big spender in the White House," Palin told the enthusiastic audience.

While McCain unveiled a new campaign speech Monday, his running mate stuck largely to her usual script -- devoting nearly as much time to discussing the special needs of her son Trig, the need to expand drilling for oil and natural gas, and reforming Washington as to McCain's economic plan.

The crowd waited for hours for Palin to arrive and chanted "No-bama!" and "We want Fox!" in the run-up to her speech.

The crowd was so large that some supporters standing far back from the stage began chanting "Louder, louder!" midway through Palin's speech after she had paid homage to military veterans in the crowd.

Palin, who assumed they were protesters, said in response to the chants, "I hope those protesters have the courage and honor to give veterans thanks for their right to protest."

-- Juliet Eilperin

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