Palin stumps in rural Ohio

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio - Sarah Palin told voters in southeastern Ohio on Sunday that she and John McCain would bring jobs to this economically depressed piece of Appalachia.

Using her folksy appeal, Palin highlighted her record as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, about the same size as this small city near the West Virginia border.

She said rival Barack Obama doesn't understand places like this.

"I love Small Town USA because hard-working, good American (families), you just get it," Palin said on a stage with an open barn as her backdrop. "It's kind of like those simple lessons our parents used to teach us: Don't spend more than you have. It's that commonsense conservatism that is John McCain. ... America just cannot afford another big spender in the White House."

The Republican duo has toned down its attacks on Democrat Barack Obama.

Last Monday, Palin said Obama was "palling around with terrorists." On Friday, after voters at campaign rallies shouted "terrorist" and "off with his head" toward the stage, McCain called Obama "a decent family man" whom the public shouldn't fear; McCain cut off a woman who called Obama an Arab.

The character attacks, it appears, are now out of Palin's stump speech as the economy has become the issue on which this election will likely be decided.

"There's anger about the insider dealing of lobbyists. And anger at the greed of Wall Street. And anger about the arrogance of the Washington elite," she said.

"That's right. Throw them out," a voter shouted.

"John McCain is going to turn your anger into action," Palin said.

As McCain met with his economic team, Palin emphasized the kitchen-table issues that dominate this small town.

"The smell of the hay, the smell of the cut grass is just beautiful," Palin said.

Democratic counterpart Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the area Tuesday.