Barack Obama's spokesman fired off a fast criticism of Republican John McCain's new running mate Friday, but the Democratic candidate himself quickly stepped in to offer her congratulations and praise.
Obama, who is eager to win over female voters who backed his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries, blamed the mixed messages about McCain's choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on campaign aides with a "hair trigger."
He and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, followed up with congratulatory phone calls to Palin.
McCain made his surprise announcement moments before Obama flew from Denver with Biden and their wives. Fresh off Obama's nomination acceptance speech before 84,000 people Thursday night, the foursome launched a three-day bus tour of crucial industrial states, which began with a visit to a biodiesel fuel plant near Pittsburgh.
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As the plane was lifting off from Denver, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement calling Palin an abortion-rights opponent and "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience."
Soon thereafter, with the plane over the Midwest, a spokeswoman gave reporters on board a much kinder statement from Biden and Obama.
"Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics," their statement said. "While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Gov. Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."
After touring the steamy biodiesel fuel plant in Monaca, Pa., Obama offered reporters still another comment on Palin.
He has not met her, he said, but "she seems like a compelling person. Obviously a terrific story, personal story. And I'm sure that she will help make the case for the Republicans. Unfortunately, the case is more of the same," an allusion to his theme that McCain will continue Bush administration policies.
Palin's selection, Obama said, "is one more indicator of this country moving forward. The fact that you've got a woman" as the "vice presidential nominee of one of the major parties, I think, is one more hit against that glass ceiling."
Clinton often says she made "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling," a reference to the number of votes she won in primaries as she sought to become the nation's first female president.
Asked why Burton's statement had been far more critical of Palin, Obama said, "I think, you know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers. And the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments."
In his telephone call to Palin, Obama "told her she would be a terrific candidate," campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said later. "He also wished her good luck, but not too much luck."
Spokesmen said Biden also called Palin to congratulate her.
When Obama named Biden his running mate earlier this month, McCain congratulated the Delaware senator while many of his surrogates criticized Biden. Since then, the barbs between Obama and McCain have grown sharper.
In Monaca, Obama, Biden and their wives stopped at an industrial warehouse where chicken fat is converted to tractor fuel. The visit made two things clear: Western Pennsylvania, where Clinton easily bested Obama in the primary, will be hotly contested in the fall campaign, and energy will be a top campaign issue, because the two parties disagree over which new energy sources should be pursued hardest.
At an evening rally with several thousand people in Beaver, floodlights bathed a bunting-draped bandstand where Obama repeated several of his themes from Denver.
He noted that McCain has vowed to purse Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell."
"Well, he should start by going to where Osama bin Laden actually lives," Obama said, in mountain caves "between Afghanistan and Pakistan."