Politics / Sarah Palin Obama Keeps Mum on Palin Focuses on McCain, avoids fueling Palin fever By Kate Rockwood, Newser Staff Posted Sep 14, 2008 12:33 PM CDT Copied Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally in Concord, N.H., Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Barack Obama has maintained near-silence on the subject of Sarah Palin, a quiet amplified by his newfound willingness to aggressively attack John McCain, reports the Los Angeles Times. Her name is rarely mentioned outside of references to the McCain-Palin ticket; when asked directly about her, he switches the focus back to McCain; Joe Biden remains equally mum. The silence may rely on the belief that Palin will either trip up or fade out if left alone. The strategy worked in late May, when Obama abruptly stopped paying attention to Hillary Clinton; her campaign sputtered and collapsed. Aides close to the candidate also maintain that Obama doesn’t want to ramp up Palin's publicity, though his campaign has steered reporters to unflattering news about her. (More Sarah Palin stories.) Report an error