One Time, at Debate Camp...

T minus three days and counting until the vice presidential debate.

And to prepare Sarah Palin for that much-anticipated event, the Alaska governor is apparently going to 'debate camp.'

CNN is reporting that Palin is spending some quality time with John McCain's advisers and aides at the senator's ranch near Sedona, Ariz., to ready herself for her Thursday night debate against Joe Biden. A McCain aide said the senator himself came up with the idea.

And if her catastrophic interview last week with "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric is any indication (enter Tina Fey's impersonation), she's going to need all the help she can get.

"The idea of debate camp is not some kind of remedial education program for her," said one CNN pundit. "All candidates do this. The problem is that she's gone into the witness protection program. She's not being seen in public, which is customary for people running for national office"
McCain's campaign still maintains Palin was a great pick and is good for the ticket, despite her recent gaffes. They say they're not worried about how she'll fare against the Delaware senator (who could romp her, but the trick is to not romp her too badly).

Appearing with McCain today, Palin said she was looking forward to the verbal joust, and took a little jab at Biden.

"So I guess it's my turn now, and I do look forward to Thursday night," she joked at a rally in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm looking forward to meeting him, too. I never met him, but I've been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in, like, second grade."

"CBS Evening News" also released the next installment of Couric's interview with Palin, who has McCain with her this time. Couric asks about Palin's recent Pakistan gaffe, to which both Republicans say the whole incident was about "'gotcha' journalism."

Couric also asks Palin whether she's really, I mean, really ready for this office. She's taken some "flak" - including some from Republicans who are wondering if she's really ready - since her last abysmal interview performance with the CBS anchor. Palin gives her usual response about executive experience, blah, blah, then McCain pipes in to the rescue.

"This is not the first time that I've seen a governor being questioned by some quote, 'expert,'" he says. "I remember that Ronald Reagan was a 'cowboy.' President Clinton was a governor of a very small state that had 'no experience' either. I remember how easy it was gonna be for Bush, I, to defeat him. I still recall, whoops, that one."