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With Sarah Palin in the spotlight as she continues her nationwide media and book tour, the Democratic National Committee is suggesting to its supporters that the former GOP vice presidential candidate could pose a real threat to the Democratic agenda.

In a fundraising e-mail sent out Friday, Organizing for America -- the community organizing component of the DNC founded in the wake of Barack Obama’s inauguration -- said it is aiming to raise $500,000 in the next week "to help push back against Sarah Palin and her allies."

"Right now, Sarah Palin is on a highly publicized, nationwide book tour, attacking President Obama and his plan for health reform at every turn," says the e-mail, signed by OFA Director Mitch Stewart. "It's dangerous. Remember, this is the person who coined the term 'Death Panels' -- and opened the flood gates for months of false attacks by special interests and partisan extremists."

Palin has managed to draw in large crowds on her book tour, illustrating the fact that she still has ardent political supporters more than a year after losing the 2008 election and months after resigning as governor of Alaska. Mainstream media outlets, as well as both conservative and liberal outlets, have thoroughly covered Palin's moves because of the public's strong interest in her.

It is open for debate, however, whether the DNC truly considers Palin a threat or is simply using Palin's current moment in the spotlight to its own advantage.

"This e-mail is a standard political tactic: use a highly controversial opponent to rally your base," CBS News' Political Director Steve Chaggaris said. "Knowing how strongly liberals dislike Palin, President Obama's political arm sees an opportunity and is trying to take advantage of that anti-Palin passion to benefit its cause."

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President Obama has no scheduled public events on Friday, after returning home Thursday afternoon from an 8-day trip to four countries in Asia.

Coverage of Obama's Visit to Asia:

Photo Essays
Photo Essay: Obama at the Great Wall of China
Photo Essay: Obama in China
Photo Essay: Obama in South Korea
Photo Essay: Obama in Japan

Stories and Blog Posts
CBS News Interview with Obama in China
Obama Returns Home After 4-Nation, 20,898-Mile Trip
Obama's Trip Lacked Notable Achievements
Obama, Lee Seek Nuke Bargain with N. Korea
In Asia, Obama Talks Tough on Iran
Obama Calls Great Wall "Magical"
Obama Reunites with Half-Brother in China
Obama Stresses Cooperation With Hu, China
Obama Takes in the Sights of Beijing
U.S., China Fuel Each Other's Bad Habits

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Gearing up for a long health care Senate debate...

** Stimulus tracking comes under fire...

** Republican governors focus on economic issues...

HEALTH CARE: "The Senate Thursday began what promises to be a bitter, lengthy battle over the future of health care in America, and taxes, abortion, affordability and federal deficits emerged as key flashpoints," reports McClatchy Newspapers' David Lightman.

"Senate Democratic leaders expect the first test vote on their new $848 billion, 2,074-page health care overhaul bill will come on Saturday evening. Although Democrats are likely to get the 60 votes they need to move forward with the debate, the outcome is uncertain.

"Should the measure pass that initial test, lawmakers made it clear Thursday that they're ready for weeks of political warfare.

"Democrats framed their mission in heroic terms.

"'This is about the woman with high cholesterol, or the man with heart disease, or the child with hay fever who can't get help,' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'That's why we're stopping insurance companies from deciding they'd simply rather not give health care to the sick.'”

"The first test for the bill, which would extend coverage to 31 million more Americans while reducing federal deficits by $130 billion over the next decade, will come Saturday evening," write the Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray. "That is when Democratic leaders hope to keep together all 60 of their caucus members to turn back Republican procedural objections. Reid's efforts are focused on three moderate Democrats who oppose various provisions in the measure and have not declared whether they will support efforts to advance it.

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Updated 5:07 p.m. ET

Credit tail winds or a pilot with a heavy hand on the throttle, but President Obama returned home two hours early from this 8-day, 4-nation Asia trip.

Worth noting: The trip home was one of those time warp events: Thanks to the International Date Line, Mr. Obama left Seoul at 4:11p.m. local time Thursday and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base 21 minutes earlier at 350 p.m. Washington time.

He traveled 20,898 miles to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea.

It brings to 20, the number of foreign nations he has visited since taking office a day short of ten months ago.

He has done more foreign travel in his first year than any other U.S. president. And his overseas journeys are not yet at an end for the year.

He'll be going to Oslo next month to receive his Nobel Peace Prize. And may return to Scandinavia a week later to attend the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen.

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Senate health care bill pleases most Democrats...

** President Obama gives a stern message to North Korea and Iran...

** Sarah Palin hits the road...

HEALTH CARE: "Senate majority leader Harry Reid unveiled his long-awaited version of a sweeping health care bill last night, setting the stage for a tense Senate showdown pitting Republicans against a fragile and fractured Democratic majority," report the Boston Globe's Lisa Wangsness and Susan Milligan.

"The proposal would expand coverage to most Americans and is predicted to cut the deficit by $127 billion over 10 years, a benefit Senate leaders hoped would help it attract fiscally conservative moderates who will decide the bill’s fate. It also includes a so-called public option, a government-backed insurance plan in states that want one, a concession to liberals.

"With President Obama calling for a bill to be sent to his desk by the end of the year, Reid is hoping to bring the historic health care package up for a test vote on Saturday.”

"Sixty votes are needed to begin debate on the measure, and Senate leaders said they're confident they'll get the votes to proceed after talking with three wavering moderates, Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln, Louisiana's Mary Landrieu and Nebraska's Ben Nelson," adds McClatchy Newspapers' David Lightman.

"Nelson said that while he remained undecided, the possible Saturday vote shouldn't be seen as a judgment on the bill's substance. 'It is a motion to start debate on a bill and to try to improve it,' he said.

Other moderates were also cautious. 'We'll wait and see,' Lincoln said. Added Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., 'I'm going to reserve judgment until I've had a chance to read it, but the numbers on deficit reduction are encouraging.'

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the Obama administration's decision to try professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a federal court is a political move to satisfy "left-wing critics" of military tribunals.

Attorney General Eric Holder has drawn heavy fire from Republicans and some Democrats since announcing last week that Mohammed and four alleged henchmen would be prosecuted in a civilian trial instead of a military tribunal. A CBS News poll released earlier this week shows Americans wary of the idea as well, with 54 percent opposed compared to 40 percent in favor.

Giuliani, who was mayor at the time of the World Trade Center attacks, said the move was part of a political agenda "because it makes no sense," during an appearance on CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday.

"The reality is that they could be tried in a military tribunal. There is no reason to try them in a civilian court. Others are going to be tried in the military tribunal. And the reality is we've never done this before. And this is something that was pushed very, very hard by the left wing for President Obama to do and he's been criticized for delaying in doing it."

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President Obama told CBS News' Chip Reid that anyone in his administration caught leaking information about the Afghanistan troop decision would be fired. But transparency only goes so far.

Releasing information that transpired among senior staff in the high-security Situation Room in the basement of the White House about how to conduct or wind down the war in Afghanistan is not appropriate, the president said.

Other presidents, such as Mr. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, have made similar threats. Mr. Bush said he would fire anyone who leaked Valerie Plame's name to the press. Scooter Libby, chief of staff for former Vice President Dick Cheney, was indicted and convicted on charges of obstruction and perjury related to the leak, but he quit before anyone could fire him. Libby was sentenced to a 30-month prison terms and fined $250,000. But Mr. Bush commuted the prison sentence.

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President Obama is in Korea where his Thursday will begin on Wednesday night in the U.S. On Thursday morning in Seoul, he will begin his day by visiting United States Embassy staff and their families.

He then participates in an arrival ceremony at the Blue House, the presidential compound in Northern Seoul. Following the ceremony, the president will meet with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea. In the afternoon, the leaders will hold a joint press conference at the Blue House. Following the joint press conference, they will participate in a working lunch.

Mr. Obama will also deliver remarks at event with service members while in South Korea. He then departs Seoul on route back to Washington, with a stopover in Alaska.

Here's the full schedule from the White House (all times Eastern):

Wednesday, Nov. 18

8:10PM: President Obama visits United States Embassy staff and their families

9:00PM: President Obama arrives at the Blue House and participates in an arrival ceremony.

9:15PM: President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea hold a bilateral meeting.

9:50PM: President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea hold an expanded bilateral meeting.

10:30PM: President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea hold a joint press conference.

11:10PM: President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak participate in a working lunch.

Thursday, Nov. 19

1:20AM: President Obama delivers remarks at event with service members.

2:05AM: President Obama departs South Korea en route Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska.

9:40AM: President Obama arrives in Anchorage, Alaska.

11:40AM: President Obama departs Anchorage, Alaska en route Washington, DC.

6:05PM: President Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base

6:25PM: President Obama departs Fort McNair en route The White House

BEIJING -- When he's not been pressing the Chinese on human rights, or asking them to change their economic policy, or seeking their help on stopping North Korea and Iran's nuclear weapons programs, President Obama is taking in the sights of Beijing.

Between high level meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao and a formal and lavish state dinner last night, the president toured the Forbidden City, once the home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

While the president didn't see all of the 9,999 buildings in the 178 acre complex, he did see the Hall of Central Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Central Garden and the Imperial Garden, where the ruling families spent leisure time.

Mr. Obama signed a guest book at the bowed to his tour guides. "Thank you, it was a wonderful tour," he said.

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After 30 years of a formal relationship between the U.S. and Chinese governments, their bilateral commitment to global issues is more important than ever, Jon Huntsman, U.S. Ambassador to China, said during a press briefing in Beijing Tuesday. The United States and China, he said, are the only two countries that together can solve issues relating to energy, climate change, regional security or the global economy.

"I would say today like never before we are in a position where we should be able to coordinate on many of these key issues in an unprecedented way," he said.

President Obama on Tuesday met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in what Huntsman called "an all-time high in terms of the bilateral atmosphere."

In spite of that positive assessment, Huntsman cautioned that the United States -- and he personally -- still have quite a bit to learn about China.

"Don't mistake me for being an expert, because I've been here for three months," Huntsman said. "And I've come to the conclusion that 'China expert' is kind of an oxymoron. And those who consider themselves to be China experts are kind of morons. So you take what you can, you learn what you can, and you begin to pull all the pieces together, and still it kind of remains sometimes a somewhat confused environment."

More on President Obama's trip to China:

Photo Essay: Obama in China
Obama Stresses Cooperation With Hu, China
At Shanghai Forum, Obama Stresses Freedoms
Transcript: Obama's Town Hall in China
President Obama, Can We Twitter?
U.S., China Fuel Each Other's Bad Habits
In China, Obama Meets America's Lender