Steve Brusk
CNN Senior National Editor

Probably not the product placement John McCain was looking for.

McCain is in New York, preparing for Wednesday’s final presidential debate. His Manhattan hotel happens to be next to the Ziegfeld Theatre, the site of Tuesday night’s premiere of Oliver Stone’s new biopic about President Bush, called “W.”

McCain has tried to distance himself at times from the President on the campaign . But he left the hotel to attend a fundraiser just as the red carpet arrivals for the premiere were getting underway. People were already lined up next to signs like, “W: A Life Understood” for the inaugural showing, just as the candidate walked out of the hotel.

McCain’s motorcade then passed directly in front of the main entrance to the theater, just ten feet from the red carpet itself. But he didn’t have any close calls with the celebrities.

CNN producer Peter Hamby, staying in the McCain hotel, saw Stone arrive outside his hotel room window. If McCain had any reaction, reporters weren’t able to see it.

Steve Brusk
Political Desk Senior Editor

Two moments from the John McCain rally in Albuquerque, and the Sarah Palin rally in Estero, FL that demonstrate some of the emotions on the trail this week.

In Albuquerque, CNN’s Tasha Diakides notes that as McCain said, “All people want to know is: What has this man ever actually accomplished in government? What does he plan for America? In short: Who is the real Barack Obama”, someone in the crowd yelled “Terrorist.”

In Estero, a local sheriff was addressing the crowd before Sarah Palin entered the room. Sheriff Mike Scott of Lee County, FL said, “On November 4th, let’s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened.” As the crowd cheered, he gave a forceful salute.

Moments earlier, Lee said, “We have an opportunity to put a tag team in the White House whose loyalty, allegiance and honor in this country, and record of service, have never been questioned.”

In March, McCain rebuked a conservative radio talk show host in Cincinnati when Bill Cunningham repeatedly referred to Barack Hussein Obama while warming up the crowd at a McCain rally, before McCain was on stage.

And from Palin spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt:

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