McCain To Interrupt Debate Prep With Rally In N.M.

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(PHOENIX) – John McCain is back on the campaign trail today, after letting Sarah Palin go on the offensive this past weekend and attack Barack Obama, while he prepared from his home in Sedona, Ariz., for the debate tomorrow night.

McCain will make his first public appearance in three days at a town hall meeting in Albuquerque, N.M., this afternoon. That’s in sharp contrast to Obama, who has had multiple events in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina during that time.

The Republican ticket is trailing Obama and Joe Biden by five points in New Mexico, according to a recent poll by the Albuquerque Journal, but 14% of voters were undecided. George Bush barely won the state four years ago.

There are 29 days left until Election Day, and McCain campaign says they are not concerned the falling poll numbers.

"There's plenty of time yet. We have the opportunity and the resources to prevail,” said senior adviser Mark Salter.

“The environment has always been a challenge and I include the media double standard as an important part of the environment. But we're going to speak clearly about the candidate's real records, the reforms he can be counted on to make and the stakes in this election – in the debate, in speeches and on air."