Obama is conspicuously silent on Palin

Chris Kofinis, communications director for John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign, said: "Palin right now is the flavor of the week. And the reality is she's going to rise or fall based on how she performs in the public eye. The last thing you want to do as a campaign is to fuel more media attention toward her when you don't need to."

Obama has some practice with this. In May, late in his primary battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton, he abruptly stopped paying her much attention. Clinton continued to campaign as if she were locked in a fight with Obama; Obama campaigned as if his only opponent was McCain. He began appearing in states that were important in the general election, ignoring the remaining primaries under the assumption that they didn't matter.

His strategy worked.

This time around, though, his supporters, anguished over his disappearing lead in the polls, say they'd like to see Obama show more fight. With Palin dominating news coverage for much of the last two weeks, they'd like to hear what Obama has to say about her qualifications. Or at least a word from Biden.

Walking out of the town hall event in Dover, Joyce Blanchard, 59, of Hampton Falls, said she had hoped to hear more about the dynamics of a race that seems to be turning in McCain's favor.

"I wish he would come out in defense of himself. He needs to stand up," she said. "People want to see that. He could benefit greatly by actually saying something that people want to hear."

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peter.nicholas@latimes.com