Palin on jobs, Helms, more

The News & Observer's Rob Christensen interviewed Sarah Palin on Thursday during her stop in North Carolina:

Q: What would you tell a North Carolina textile worker who has lost his job because it was shipped overseas?

PALIN: "Well, I'm a free-trader, so I do believe that our free trade agreements are ultimately good for this nation, good for workers, good for our economy. ... I would tell that textile worker that I do understand the frustration and the pain that they feel today not having a job. So John McCain and I would sure love to be able to implement our plan to get that person a job that they can hold on to. We do that by getting our economy back on track. We do that by reducing taxes, especially the business tax in the U.S., which is the second-highest in the world. ... We rein in government growth so that those who own these businesses and our families can keep more of what they earn and produce so that more people can be hired. That is how jobs are created. The third leg of our economic stimulus plan would set our nation firmly on a path toward energy independence."

Q: Would you have supported the $11 billion federal tobacco buyout that passed Congress in 2005?

PALIN: "I don't know enough about it to be able to answer that question."

Q: Probably the most famous North Carolina Republican is the late Jesse Helms, who passed away in July. What did you think of Sen. Helms?

PALIN: "I think anyone who dedicated so much of their adult professional life in the service to our country commands respect. So I do respect those years of service that he had provided. I also respect that he recognized that in the past perhaps he had said things or taken steps that later on he realized that perhaps he should not have. He apologized for those. That says a lot about a man's character, and I appreciate that."

Q: Are you prepared to be president of the United States?

PALIN: "I am. If we are so blessed to be elected in November and sworn in on Jan. 20, John McCain and I both are ready to serve Americans in the positions that we are running for, he as president, me as vice president. Heaven forbid if anything were to happen to him. But yes, my readiness it is there."

Q: Sen. Obama said during the debate that you had done nothing about supporters at some of your rallies who said things about him such as "terrorist" and "kill him."

PALIN: "If anybody had ever called out something like that, 'kill him,' I would have said something about that. I don't think that has ever happened in a rally. I certainly never heard it. ... That would be quite inappropriate and unacceptable."

Q: How do you think you will do in North Carolina?

PALIN: "We are not taking anything for granted. ...We want victory in this state for the North Carolina people who are desiring and deserving change and hope and reform."

Q: How do you feel about your prospects nationally?

PALIN: "If the polls do show that ... we are the underdogs, that is OK. That is the position I have been in most steps along the career I have had. ... That motivates us and energizes and makes us work that much harder because it is so important that on that voting day that Americans realize there are stark contrasts in the two tickets. We will work hard in the coming weeks to make sure Americans know what those contrasts are."