McCain's own polling is showing that the race is not nearly as even as the national polls indicate. He knew he had to take a gamble -- and Palin is turning out to be quite a gamble.

Whatever their private thoughts, these delegates have rallied enthusiastically for Sarah Palin here in St. Paul. The talk is Palin, Palin, Palin and Palineana (walking the walk, living the life, cutting waste, rooting out corruption).

Bud McFarlane tells me that right now "a friend" of his is working with Palin on foreign affairs. "She's clearly very intelligent," he says. "It's a good sign she hasn't been afraid to say what she doesn't know. That was Ronald Reagan's strength."

In Palin, McCain may have found a way to shift attention away from Bush-McCain associations. "In a normal election," Karl Rove said, "the effect of the vice presidential candidate is minimal..."

I had no idea Palin would change the dynamic of the election like this. There are 3000 enthusiasts waiting in the rain with me in Lebanon, Ohio, to see her, and a thousand more crowding the barricades behind us.

Obama is spending more in New Mexico on the Latino vote than both parties spent total for Latino outreach in '04. But the number one reason he's winning over Latinos here is the fact that he showed up.

"The campaign wants us to not go in the houses, but we do it anyway! We're supposed to do three hours of canvassing, but it's an hour in each house. Before I know it, I have three tacos in my hand. Before I go, they've hugged me and blessed me!"