Pat Dollard | Young Americans

VP candidate Palin introduces ‘Ed the Dairyman’

ROSWELL, N.M. — Joe the Plumber, meet Ed the Dairyman.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke to a crowd of about 10,000 supporters Sunday in Roswell, not only making a reference to Joe the Plumber, but alluding several times to “Ed the Dairyman” after seeing someone in the crowd holding a sign identifying himself that way.

Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber from Holland, Ohio, became a media sensation last week when Republican presidential candidate referred to “Joe the Plumber” several times during a debate with Democrat Barack Obama.

She challenged Obama’s tax plans and said McCain would cut business taxes, double child tax deductions for families and cut capital gains taxes.

Palin began her remarks with a reference to her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” hours earlier, saying there was no place she would rather be than live from Roswell on Sunday afternoon.
(AP)

Biden urges New Mexico Democrats to cast ballots early (and often … Oh, sorry, that was my bad.)

By Diana M. Alba - (Las Cruces Sun-News)

MESILLA (pronounced “Messiah” … I shit you not)– Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden asked supporters in Mesilla not to quit working for the Barack Obama campaign, with Election Day less than three weeks away and Obama climbing in the polls.

“This election is very, very, very far from over,” Biden said, speaking from an elevated stage erected in the historic Mesilla plaza.

Biden, in a 30-minute speech, urged voters to turn out Saturday — the first Saturday for early voting in New Mexico. He said that would favor Democrats.

“In 2004, early voting was over 50 percent of the total voting here in New Mexico,” he said. “If we get that over 60 percent this year in early voting, it will bode incredibly well for us. So please, vote early.”

Obama campaign officials estimated the rally drew about 2,500 people. Many waited two hours to see Biden, and several held Obama signs authorized by the campaign; other signs weren’t allowed.

Biden outlined Obama’s positions on taxes, health care, education and energy. He criticized McCain’s tax plan, which he said will amount to a break for the wealthiest Americans. Obama’s plan, he said, will result in tax cuts for the middle class.

“We think small businesses should get a tax break — not ExxonMobil,” he said.

But Bill Riggs, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said that the policies

of GOP presidential John McCain will result in tax breaks “across the board.” He contended the Obama-Biden policy will result in greater taxation for small businesses.
“Raising taxes is the last thing you do,” he said in a phone interview.

Perhaps the loudest applause during the rally came after a promise by Biden to end the war in Iraq. Biden also said Congress has work to do before the next president takes office. He said lawmakers should pass a moratorium on home foreclosures and a bill to give small businesses a tax break for new employees that are hired.

Biden referred to a comment by McCain in Wednesday’s debate in which he told Obama that he wasn’t George W. Bush.

“If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck,” Biden said.

Biden’s comments about college education most appealed to Kristin Twombly, 29, of Las Cruces, who is studying speech pathology at New Mexico State University.

“It has taken me 12 years to get my bachelor’s degree, and I’m also a single mom,” she said. “The things I get excited about are the health care and college affordability. Their campaign represents a lot of the struggles I’ve been through.”

Biden touched upon a plan to compensate people who dedicate time to service for the country by contributing to the cost of their college education.

Richard Garcia of Roswell, 63, a retired retail salesman, said he traveled to Las Cruces because he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see Biden.

“The turnout was fantastic; they need to go to Roswell and that area,” he said of the campaign.

McCain supporter Keisto Lucero, who said he was tossed out of the rally early after he cheered for McCain, said he disapproves of the Obama-Biden tax plan. He said tax increases for large companies result in higher prices for consumers and fewer jobs.

“Not all change represents progress,” said Lucero, a sophomore at NMSU. “I think (Obama) is making a lot of empty promises he won’t be able to keep if he’s elected.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson introduced Biden to the audience and praised the senator’s work in foreign policy and national security. He joked about his and Biden’s failed attempt to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

“We were on the stage together running for president,” Richardson said. “You probably forgot I ran, too.”

Biden’s next stop is in Nevada, the campaign said.