Sarah Palin Takes Manhattan

September 22, 2008— -- Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's coming out party on the world stage kicks off tomorrow with a series of meetings with the types of foreign leaders she would regularly interact with as vice president, ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala reports.

Palin sits down with foreign leaders (and one rock star) in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly.

On Palin's Tuesday schedule: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, as well as former US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger. Delawala reports that on Wednesday Palin will meet with Iraq President Jalal Talabani and Pakistan's newly-elected President Asif Ali Zardari.

More from Delawala:
"Palin has not met any foreign heads of state in her capacity as governor of Alaska, and has been criticized for her lack of foreign policy experience. She first received a passport two years ago, before visiting American troops in Kuwait and Germany in 2007. Palin will be joined by Sen. John McCain for joint meetings on Wednesday with the presidents of Georgia and the Ukraine, as well as with the prime minister of India. The Republican running mates will also meet Wednesday with U2 lead singer Bono, who has been active in international humanitarian issues."

President Bush delivers his final address to the United Nations and he is expected to address the rocky U.S. economy and assure world leaders that his administration is taking action to steady the recent, per ABC News' Jennifer Duck.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters today on Air Force One: "I think what the President can do is lay out what our proposal is, what we are -- that we are taking bold, aggressive, decisive action; that this was not the President's first instinct; that he would not have wanted to take this action to help these companies if he wasn't convinced by the considered judgment of his senior economic team that it was critical in order to protect the American taxpayers and the American economy as a whole."

ABC News' Duck notes the environment in which President Bush delivers his finale UN address: "violence is on the rise in Pakistan and Afghanistan, tensions are high with Russia, and negotiations with North Korea aren't moving as quickly as the administration had once hoped."

Back on the trail…
On the campaign trail, John McCain will hold events in Ohio and Michigan and is expected to focus on the economy. Today, McCain expressed significant concern that the Bush Administration's Wall Street bail out plan gives too much power to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, ABC News' Ron Claiborne, Richard Coolidge, and Bret Hovell report.

"I'm greatly concerned about the plan that gives a single individual the unprecedented power to spend one trillion, one trillion dollars, without any meaningful accountability," McCain said. "Never before in the history of our nation has so much power and money been concentrated in the hands of one person."

"This arrangement makes me deeply uncomfortable," McCain continued, emphasizing the word deeply. "And when we're talking about a trillion dollars of taxpayer money, 'trust me' just isn't good enough."

Virginia: Close race, small lead for Obama
The economy is the top issue on voters' minds and that is especially true in the battleground state of Virginia where economic jitters and a favorable Democratic climate are contributing to a competitive presidential contest between McCain and Obama, ABC News Polling Director Gary Langer reports.

According to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, 49 percent of Virginia likely voters support Obama, 46 percent McCain.

Virginia has gone to the Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1964 but Democrats have won the last three races for governor or U.S. Senate.

Per ABC News' Langer:
"An ABC News/Washington Post poll in the commonwealth shows the powerful role of the economy in voters' views this year: Fifty-two percent call it the single most important issue in their vote, far and away No. 1. And eight in 10 are worried about the economy's direction in the next few years, with 45 percent very worried.

Those concerns, likely exacerbated by last week's market upheaval, work to Barack Obama's advantage. He holds a 10-point lead over John McCain among registered voters in trust to handle the economy; a bigger, 23-point advantage in understanding Americans' economic problems; and large head-to-head leads in vote preference among those who cite the economy as their top issue and who express worry about its direction."

More on the Virginia poll here: LINK

Joe Biden will hold an event in Woodbridge VA on Tuesday and will focus on the economy.

Obama has no public events as he begins debate prep in Tampa, FL, a key area in a state that may be closer than it looked over the last few weeks. The Obama campaign did not just pick Tampa by closing their eyes and pointing at the map. The city is on one end of the critical I-4 corridor that cuts across the middle of the Sunshine State, a swath of voters that may hold the key to winning the state on Nov. 4.

On the campaign front. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 10:30 am ET – Makes a statement, Strongsville, OH
-- 11:20 am ET – Tours Nova Machine Products and makes a statement, Middleburg, OH
-- 4:00 pm ET – Tours Dow Corning Corporation, Freeland, MI.

SARAH PALIN
-- Meets with President Karzai, New York
-- Meets with President Uribe, New York
-- Meets with Dr. Henry Kissinger, New York

As for the Democrats…
BARACK OBAMA
-- No Public Events, Tampa FL

JOE BIDEN
-- Holds campaign event in Woodbridge, VA
-- 5:00 pm ET - Addresses National Jewish Democratic Council in Washington, D.C.

At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 10:30 am ET - Speaks to the UN General Assembly.

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Mark Mooney: Congress Pushes for Oversight in Historic Wall Street Bailout LINK

ABC News' Matthew Dowd: The Remaining Game Changers LINK

ABC News' Russell Goldman: Bill Clinton: Hillary Never Wanted to be Obama's VP LINK

ABC News' Jennifer Parker: McCain Gaffes Could Undercut Message on Economy, Foreign Affairs LINK

ABC News' Ron Claiborne: McCain: 'Deeply' Uncomfortable with Bailout Money in the Hands of Only One Person LINK

ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala: Palin to Meet World Leaders, Bono LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: NRA Firing Away at Obama-Biden on TV and Radio LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain-Palin Media Avoidance Watch, Continued LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Last Year's Big Five Wall Street Bonuses LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

McCain: Too Much Power for Paulson
Sens. McCain and Obama weigh in on the Wall Street bailout plan. LINK

Bill Clinton Likes McCain and Obama
He applauds McCain's war service and says he genuinely admires both candidates. LINK

Clinton's Economic 'View'
The former president says government plan should include homeowner assistance. LINK

Clinton Jokes About the Economy
President Clinton cites Whoopi's shoes while discussing U.S. financial troubles. LINK

World Leaders Meet in NYC
The U.N. General Assembly begins a week of high-level multilateral meetings. LINK

Is the Bailout Fair?
A look at the bill being rushed through Congress. LINK

Talking Money With Congress
Barney Frank and Christopher Shays discuss the AIG bailout. LINK

The Political Fact Desk
While the candidates play the blame game, "GMA" checks the facts. LINK

Will the Bailout Fail?
Questions and doubts surround proposed $700 billion recovery package. LINK

How Did We Get Here?
A look at what caused the current financial crisis. LINK

How the Bailout Impacts You
Ariel Investments chief speculates on how effects of bailout will be felt. LINK

How the candidates are using the economy in their campaigns. LINK

An Energy Stash in Our Backyard?
Utah's enormous natural gas reserves -- and the cost of tapping them. LINK

Paulson: Bailout 'Something That Has to Work'
Treasury secretary tells "This Week" about the administration's economic plan. LINK

Dodd, Boehner: Clean and Simple Plan
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, call for quick action. LINK

Roundtable: Bailout Fallout
George Will, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson and Donna Brazile. LINK

Green Room: Debates Debate
Backstage with George Will, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson and Donna Brazile. LINK