Palin in Ohio questions Obama’s ability in crisis

The Alaska governor cited Joe Biden as saying Obama ‘is not ready.’

TROY, Ohio (AP) — Hockey mom Sarah Palin used an ice rink to rally supporters Thursday and again questioned Barack Obama’s ability to deal with an international crisis, accusing him of trying to gloss over his running mate’s warning that Obama would be tested early.

The Alaska governor raised the idea of a looming crisis in response to Democratic rival Joe Biden’s remark at weekend fundraisers, where Biden said of Obama, “Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”

“Senator Obama’s own running mate, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has informed us that a serious international crisis is certain if Obama is elected and that he is not ready to deal with it,” Palin told thousands of supporters at a rally in this western Ohio city. “We’ve been informed that Senator Obama is not ready for the presidency.”

Obama said Wednesday that what Biden meant was that either man who takes over from President Bush on Jan. 20 will face significant tests on the global stage and that the period of transition between administrations “is always one in which we have to be vigilant.”

Biden also said that Obama would fare well in such tests because he’s “got steel in his spine.”

Palin said America needs straight talk from Obama, not glossed-over remarks.

“What I want is a president who has spent 22 years in uniform defending our country,” she said of John McCain. “I want a president who isn’t afraid to use the word victory when he talks about the wars we are fighting. I want a president who knows how to win the war and wants to win the war.”

Obama spokesman Isaac Baker noted that Colin Powell, a Republican and President Bush’s former secretary of state, has endorsed Obama.

“Colin Powell is one of the nation’s foremost experts on national security, and the fact that he’s crossing party lines to support Obama says a lot more than any of the false attacks launched by Governor Palin today,” Baker said.

Palin also said she and McCain are the best equipped candidates to deal with the slumping economy.

“Now, more than ever, we need somebody who is tough as president. We need John McCain,” she said. “We will help our families keep their homes and help our retirees keep their savings.”

Palin accused Obama of not being candid about his tax plans.

“He’s hiding his real agenda of redistributing your hard-earned money,” she said. “John McCain and I are for real tax cuts, which is when government takes less of your earnings in the first place.”

Several thousand people cheered Palin at Hobart Arena, built as a hockey rink and used for skating and other sporting events.

Outside the arena, about 20 workers from a variety of labor unions rallied in support of Obama. They carried signs saying “Save Ohio Jobs” and held empty six-packs of beer to make the point that they consider themselves Joe Six-Packs, or the everyday working people Palin often refers to in her speeches.

“The working class is really taking a beating,” said Amber Miller, a member of the United Steel Workers union. “We just can’t continue doing what we’re doing.”

Inside, country singer Tracy Lawrence warmed up the crowd, which included Jerry Huber, 74, of Troy. Huber said he likes Palin because of her opposition to abortion.

Huber, a retired stockbroker, also said the nation is suffering from too much government bureaucracy, corruption and greed.

“Basically, our democracy is not working,” he said.