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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican vice presidential candidate, is holding a campaign rally at Salem Stadium today. Watch here for dispatches from the inside -- and outside -- the event.

Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks at a campaign rally in Leesburg Monday. Associated Press photo

Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to visit a 6:45 p.m. campaign rally at Salem Stadium today.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m., but a crowd had already formed by 11:45 this morning. (See photos from So Salem blogger Miranda Adkins.)

A shuttle bus to Salem Stadium was scheduled to begin running at 10 a.m. at the Plaza of Roanoke-Salem at 4100 Melrose Ave. in Northwest Roanoke. Parking also is available at the stadium and at the Salem Civic Center.

To read more on the Civic Center's preparations for the event, check out today's story.

Watch excerpts from Obama's speech, and view video from his surprise visit to Total Elegance Salon on Jefferson Street.

Click here to watch.

Obama ended his speech with an appeal to action. He repeated portions of his stump speech from Thursday, saying he’d been ahead in the polls prior to the New Hampshire primary – where Hillary Clinton won.

“You can’t pay attention to the polls,” Obama said. “We’ve got to keep making our case for change.”

The entire speech lasted just under 40 minutes – significantly shorter than the town halls in Bristol, Martinsville and Lynchburg earlier this summer. Too, Obama kept largely to his stump speech and talking points that emerged from Wednesday’s debate with McCain.

Still, the crowd of about 8,250 – according to an official from the Roanoke fire marshal’s office –was enthusiastic.

Over the next few days Obama is scheduled to continue his tour through a number of battleground states, including Missouri, North Carolina and Florida.

-- Mason Adams | Photo by Sam Dean

Obama listed a number of policy points, from health care to education.

He ended by saying he plans on going through the federal government to look for and cut unnecessary programs.

"We will eliminate programs that don’t work, and aren’t needed – and we will start by ending the war in Iraq," Obama said.

-- Mason Adams

Obama said that McCain is trying to shift the race's focus from the economy to personal attacks. "But it's not going to work," he said. "Not this time."

The next few lines triggered the biggest response from the crowd so far, aside from his entrance.

"I can take three more weeks of attacks from John McCain," Obama said. "It’s better than taking four more years of the same failed policies. That’s why I’m running for president."

The crowd in the nearly full civic center responded with chants of "Obama" and "Yes we can."

-- Mason Adams

Obama referenced Wednesday's debate:

"Sen. McCain felt need to inform me he’s not President Bush. In fairness, Sen. McCain doesn’t look like President Bush. Doesn’t have that Texas accent like Bush. I don’t blame Sen. McCain for all of President Bush’s mistakes.

"After all he’s only voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time."

-- Mason Adams

Obama started off on economic issues right off the bat.

"You're paying more for everything from gas to groceries, but your paychecks have flatlined," Obama said.

"But I believe we can steer ourselves out of this crisis because I believe in this country."

-- Mason Adams

Obama called Webb "a warrior on behalf of working families across Virginia."

He also cited Boucher but misidentified Roanoke as being part of Boucher's 9th district.

Obama also recognized Virginia Del. Onzlee Ware, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former Gov. Mark Warner.

-- Mason Adams | Photo by Sam Dean

Webb took some shots at McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential candidate.

“Do you really think Sarah Palin is the most qualified person in the Republican Party?” Webb asked.

He cited a country song of a couple of years ago: “I Know What I Was Feeling But What Was I Thinking?”

“I think John McCain’s singing that song right now,” Webb said.

A couple of minutes later, Webb introduced Obama to a roar and standing ovation.

-- Mason Adams