I'm going to add one more thought into the pile of diaries today discussing how Palin and McCain have essentially cast aside all pretense and are riling up practical lynch mobs at their public events. To me, any surprise expression on McCain's face isn't even surprise, he's pausing for dramatic effect and he keeps going. He knows exactly what he's doing. Palin's views are even closer to those of the rabid ultra-right wing supporters so she is purposely tapping into their anger and hatred.
UPDATE: Let me make it clear, this wasn't an evil genius diary, I am stating that they know what they are doing with the "firing up the base" tactic. They are losing and pulling out all the stops, and this is just one of the things that they are resorting to as a result.
Its not (just) to turn out the base to vote for them. They know that the base numbers won't bring a win for them. What they are trying to do is depress African-American voting numbers, either through fear or through intimidation.
They want to bring us back to Reconstruction times, and get their Dittoheads to harass people near voting booths and just get these pictures on tv and make people think twice about voting "if they know what's good for them". Its an ugly, ugly tactic, but its one that they are engaging in wholeheartedly and unashamedly.
They see all the articles about larger than ever African American turnout in states across the nation, including Southern states, and this is their response. They are stirring up the ugly elements in our society to see if they can eke out a win that way. And if they have a voting registrar or someone manning the local voting office who also feels this way, stirring them up gives them added temptation to zealously enforce voting laws, and we know what that means.
I hope that the early voting that many states are now allowing will help to deflate this tactic. And yes its a tactic. short-term and temporary, but its all they have left.