She starts making U.S. rounds

He continued: "I think that ultimately, she subscribes to the same economic theories and foreign policy theories as John McCain does. I think those are the wrong theories for this country. I don't think that John McCain is offering something that can help middle-class families on paying the bills, sending their kids to college and getting healthcare. And I don't get the sense that the addition of the vice presidential choice is going to change that."

Before being asked about Palin, Obama said he had spoken with officials in Louisiana about Hurricane Gustav and urged people to evacuate.

"Obviously this is a very serious situation. . . . It is a potentially very powerful storm," Obama said, saying he wanted to convey the message: "Take the evacuation seriously."

He said he had no plans to go to the Gulf Coast as the storm approached. He said his staff would continue to monitor the situation. "Sometimes we can be a distraction."

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bob.drogin@latimes.com

Times staff writer Noam N. Levey, with the Obama campaign in Dublin, Ohio, contributed to this report.