Today on the presidential campaign trail

[September 09, 2008]  (AP)  IN THE HEADLINES -- Obama embraces charter schools, ouster of bad teachers in bipartisan approach to education ... At Chicago fundraiser, McCain talks up new running mate, who helps raise $4 million for GOP ... Obama says Palin as mother, governor, moose hunter may be cool, but she's just another politician

Obama embraces charter schools, ouster of bad teachers

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Barack Obama is promising to double funding for charter schools and replace inferior teachers, embracing education reform proposals normally more popular with Republican candidates.

The Democratic presidential nominee says both parties must work together to improve education, according to remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday at a suburban high school gymnasium. The pitch was an appeal to moderate voters in this presidential election swing state, where the fight over education reform has been the focus of a longtime partisan battle.

"There's partisanship and there's bickering, but there's no understanding that both sides have good ideas that we'll need to implement if we hope to make the changes our children need," Obama said in excerpts provided by his campaign before the speech. "And we've fallen further and further behind as a result. If we're going to make a real and lasting difference for our future, we have to be willing to move beyond the old arguments of left and right and take meaningful, practical steps to build an education system worthy of our children and our future."

The federal government spends about $200 million a year on charter schools, privately run institutions that receive public money. Obama's proposal would take that up to over $400 million.

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McCain uses Palin as fundraising tool

CHICAGO (AP) -- Republican John McCain seized on running mate Sarah Palin's popularity to raise money for the party, telling donors at a $4 million fundraiser Monday that he's overwhelmed by the buzz she's generating for his White House bid.

"I'm very proud and I'm very pleased at the enthusiasm that's been sparked," the presidential nominee said. The fundraiser, in Barack Obama's hometown, followed several days of campaigning in which Palin has nearly overshadowed the head of the ticket.

The first-term Alaska governor has already been good for McCain's fundraising efforts. Of the $47 million he raised in August, $10 million came in the three days after he announced he had chosen her as his vice presidential running mate, the campaign said.

McCain's campaign said the event raised $4 million for the national Republican Party and state GOP committees, which will then spend it on McCain's behalf.

McCain spent about half of his speaking time boasting about Palin. "She was thoroughly vetted and I'm proud of the experience and the talent she brings to our ticket, and she will bring to the presidency and vice presidency of the United States of America," McCain said.

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Obama puts heat on Palin as she boosts GOP ticket

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Barack Obama is putting as much heat on Sarah Palin as he is on the man at the top of the GOP ticket, objecting to the Republican Party's portrayal of her as a reformer who can bring change to Washington.

Obama said last week's Republican National Convention did a good job of highlighting Palin's biography -- "Mother, governor, moose shooter. That's cool," he said. But he said Palin really is just another Republican politician, one who is stretching the truth about her record.

"When John McCain gets up there with Sarah Palin and says, 'We're for change,' ... what are they talking about?" Obama said Monday, arguing that they aren't offering different ideas from President Bush and they are just trying to steal his campaign theme because it seemed to be working.

"It was just like a month ago they were all saying, 'Oh, it's experience, experience, experience.' Then they chose Palin and they started talking about change, change, change," he said.

Obama's campaign seemed to be caught off guard by McCain's surprise pick of Palin on Aug. 29. Obama's spokesman initially blasted her as a former small-town mayor with zero foreign policy experience who wants to continue Bush's policies. But Obama quickly walked the statement back with more congratulatory words about Palin as a compelling addition to the ticket.

Voters, particularly women, seem to agree, according to new polls. An ABC News-Washington Post survey showed white women have moved from backing Obama by 8 points to supporting McCain by 12 points, with majorities viewing Palin favorably and saying she boosts their faith in McCain's decisions.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama campaigns in Riverside, Ohio, and Lebanon, Va.

Joe Biden stops in Columbia, Mo., and St. Louis.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain and Sarah Palin talk to voters in Lebanon, Ohio, and Lancaster, Pa.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Each administration is different. And there's no reason why Sarah Palin can't be a successful vice president in a McCain administration." -- Vice President Dick Cheney.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Republican John McCain's acceptance speech attracted roughly the same number of television viewers as Democrat Barack Obama's acceptance address: 42.4 million.

[Associated Press]

Compiled by Ann Sanner and Lou Kesten.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.'