Palin's First Avail

On the plane this afternoon from FL to NC. Full transcript, per NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger, available after the jump. She said she's raising Bill Ayers issue because it speaks to Barack Obama's "forthrightness."

PALIN AVAIL

Plane from FL to NC

October 7, 2008

(Small talk with reporters)

QUESTION: (AP) Governor, how do you feel like things have been going?

A: Good, these rallies have been somethin' else. Just a lot of fun. Energized and energizing...Pro-active, forward looking, solutions,

QUESTION: (WSJ) Do you think the format will help him?

A: Yes, and remember he's asked for these. He asked for as many as possible. So I think that he'll be feeling very much at home. (inaudible)

(Small talk with reporters. Showing the photo on the iPhone of reporter/mom on hockey)

A: That's an awesome picture though, that is so cool. And it's from where?

(Small talk with reporters, introducing herself)

QUESTION: Governor, on the William Ayers issue, you've been bringing it up a lot. I'm curious, why do you think it's a pertinent argument to make right now? It was a long time ago, why is it pertinent?

A: It is pertinent, it's important because when you consider Barack Obama's reaction to and explanation to his association there, and without him being clear at all on what he knew and when he knew it, that I think kinda peaks into his ability to tell us the truth on, not only on association but perhaps other things also. So, it's relevant, I believe, and I brought it up in response to the New York Times article having been printed recently, and I think it just makes us ask the question that, if there's not forthrightness there, with that association and what was known and when it was known, does that lead us to ask, is there forthrightness with the plans Barack Obama has or say tax cuts, or spending increases, makes us question judgment. And I think it's fair and relevant.

QUESTION: (FOX) Are you going to continue to link Obama to Ayers with all of the economic problems going on?

A: Well, Americans are caring about the problems in the economy of course And wanting to know what those long term solutions are that our ticket can provide and what the other ticket is proposing so when you talk though about what it is that we are proposing and what it is that Barack Obama is proposing again it is relevant to connect that association that he has with Ayers--not so much he as a person Ayers, but the whole situation and the truthfulness and the judgment there that you must question if again he's not being forthright in all of his answers as to how did you know him, when did you know him, why would you continue to be associated with him!? It makes you wonder about the forthrightedness, the truthfulness of the plans that he is telling America in regards to the economic recovery because that is first and foremost on American's minds."

QUESTION: (CBS) Q: (not exact) Are you sad about the way the campaign has devolved on both sides considering that people had hoped these nominees would bring the discourse to a higher level?

A: It's all about judgment, and this is about truthfulness, so I think that some of these issues being very relevant that they shouldn't be off base. I think that they should be-they should be considered because again, it goes to judgment and a person's ability to be truthful, so I think these issues are relevant to discuss.

QUESTION: (CNN) Do American's want to hear attack politics when the economy is this bad?

A: It is, though, about the economy, about creating jobs and about resource development and energy independence here. It comes down to one ticket's proposal that can be trusted and another ticket's proposal to deal with some of these issues and maybe questioning the truthfulness, the intention. I think it is very relevant.

QUESTION: (WaPo) Are you saying Obama is dishonest?

A: I'm not saying that he is dishonest, but in terms of judgment and in terms of being able to answer a question forthrightly it has--it has two different parts to it that judgment and that truthfulness and just being able to answer very candidly a simple question about when did you know him, how did you know him. Is there still--has there been an association with him since 02 and 05. We've heard a couple of different stories. I think it is relevant.

QUESTION: (NBC) Governor, you said over the weekend that you disagreed with the decision of the campaign to take their resources out of Michigan. You mentioned with Bill Kristol that you didn't think the Rev. Jeremiah Wright thing should be off the table. Is the McCain campaign, in your mind, playing it too conservative?

A:No, with Michigan, I'm not going to forget about Michigan. The campaign isn't either. Todd and I, particularly here, he and I were just talking about this, how important it is that Michigan understand that we are working on with economic recovery proposals, it is for them, it is for those folks that are hurting so bad, up in those, especially the blue collar areas, where those hard-working families in Michigan and all over this nation are really feeling the economic woes and are seeking the relief that our plan can provide them. It's create jobs, as we reign in government spending so that our families, our businesses can keep more of what they earn and produce, that's how jobs are created. That's how economic recovery is gonna come. So it is for those folks in Michigan, and my message has just been that I'm not going to forget about that, and yeah, I hope to get back up there and visit with them.

QUESTION: (WSJ) You've been at this for a little over a month now. Can you reflect a little bit on what you've seen and what you've been through? You have a month left, you're kind of at the half way point.

A: Yeah, yeah, that's very good perspective there to have right off the bat is that we're about at the halfway point. There's a lot that can happen and will happen in this campaign still to go. You know, I've been in an underdog position quite often in my life and so has John McCain and we both have come out victoriously coming from that underdog position and I anticipate that that's what's going to be what we see at the end of the day on November 4th. So I look forward to that. But I'm just even more-energized campaign, energized mission that we'll be on as we get out there and into more parts of the nation, talkin' about the economic recovery plan that we have.

QUESTION: (Newsweek) Do you want to debate Joe Biden again?

A: I'd love to keep on talking about the issues in whatever venue, format, anybody would allow us to.

Newsweek: But if you are looking for a game changing moment could that be one? a 2nd re-match?

A: I don't know you know it's kinda that inside baseball stuff that campaign strategists figure out. I'm--I'm focused on just one on one as much as possible getting to speak with the American voter and let him know what the long term solutions are that we are proposing and I'm convinced will work.

QUESTION: (CBS) Are you going to go on SNL and give Tina Fey a taste of her own medicine?

A: Ha ha (she laughs). I would love to. I would love to. I love her. She's a hoot and she's so talented and it would be fun to either imitate her or keep on giving her more material and keep her in business.

(Introduces herself to more reporters)

QUESTION: (NBC) Why did your husband decide to change his mind and return to Alaska and testify?

A: He's always been an open book about this whole Tasergate issue, wanting to speak with investigators, wanting to speak and is with attorneys, everybody involved. The personnel board in the state of Alaska is that board tasked with dealing with any issue involving the governor, the lieutenant governor, or the attorney general.

What the investigation turned into, led by a Senate Democrat, has been kind of a goat rope, a very partisan and very controversial type of investigation. The personnel board Todd's corroborating with, as long as all the other employees too have an opportunity to cooperate with.

It's an open book. Nobody has anything to hide. Nobody's done anything wrong. My choice, and my responsibility to replace a cabinet member, an at-will exempt political appointment whom I did replace, because his strengths were in other areas. It wasn't in running an entire department. There was some, some duties there that he was not able to fulfill.

So my choice, my responsibility had nothing to do with my husband or any of my staff members asking a guy to step aside and take another job, and he didn't want to take that other job.

QUESTION: (CBS) Where you gonna watch the debate?

A: Looking for restaurant. I know I just don't want to be in my hotel room with campaign staffers, etc.