Rep. Jonathan Paton: no energy for Obama

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What better place than Sedona — known for its spiritual and metaphysical healing powers — for Sarah Palin to revive before her big performance at Thursday night's vice-presidential debate in St. Louis?

John McCain's campaign has had Palin sequestered at the Arizona senator's Sedona-area estate (it's actually in a nearby place called Cornville) for a few days — prepping and relaxing for her thought-to-be make-or-break performance.

Indeed, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Web site calls the locale the "perfect place to enrich the body and the soul."

"Come to Mother Nature's red-rock temples to experience their life-transforming, soul-nourishing work in person," it touts.

The chamber claims the red-orange color of the rock is "one of the most neuro stimulating of colors."

"It enhances creative thinking and problem solving," the site says. And the green vegetation bathes visitors in "hope and renewal."

All that could come in handy after recent interviews Palin has conducted that McCain supporters privately fear have renewed questions about the Alaska governor's preparedness.

Her debate against Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden, a veteran senator, is predicted to be a defining moment for the new Republican star.

Maybe Sedona can help revive Palin's mind, body and soul to something approaching her rousing convention-night speech.

One American, at least, thinks Palin is just fine as is.

Chicago bar owner Bruce Elliott unveiled a 4-foot-tall portrait of Palin, a 44-year-old mother of five, in his establishment last week, according to a report by the Windy Citizen.

What made it unique? Well, the governor is pictured naked, holding a rifle and standing on a polar-bear rug.

Of course, Palin didn't pose for the painting. Elliott's daughter did.

"I don't see how she could be offended by this," Elliott told the Windy Citizen. "I made her into a sex figure."

Forecast says . . .

McCain's national polling numbers have slipped since the financial fallout and rough debate performance, and Democrat Barack Obama has pulled ahead or is tied with McCain in states where the Arizona senator was once looking strong — Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

But McCain's Arizona numbers are all over the place.

The senator is now leading Obama by 21 percentage points, according to a new poll by Rasmussen Reports. In June, McCain had only a 9-point lead in that poll.

However, an Arizona State University Cronkite journalism school/Phoenix PBS Channel 8 poll, taken by Phoenix pollster Bruce Merrill, shows McCain leading by just 7 points across Arizona. Last month, Merrill had him up by 10.

Democrats maintain that Obama has a chance.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy," said Emily DeRose, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. But she added, "With polling all over the map, it just shows that Arizonans are tired of John McCain's position of deregulation — of putting this country on a downward spiral."

And Kelly Paisley, state director for the Obama campaign, said she is seeing excitement on the ground for the Illinois senator.

While Arizona might not be considered a "battleground state," Paisley said her staff is working to mobilize Democrats and spread Obama's message that McCain is more of the same.

But Republicans call that silliness.

"I just don't see the energy for Obama, and I have an impossible time believing he's doing well in the state," said state Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson. "If he was, both McCain and Obama would be spending resources here."

Tucson first lady Beth Walkup, wife of Mayor Bob Walkup, will join former University of Arizona President Peter Likins in serving as honorary chairs of the "No on Prop. 102" campaign — a Southern Arizona-based group fighting the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Honorary chairs? That basically means the duo will serve as figures, with no real responsibilities. However, they will be featured in upcoming radio ads.

Political Notebook

Daniel Scarpinato