Washington, Sept. 8 : Alaskan Governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin may be drawing huge crowds during her various campaign stops, but party presidential nominee John McCain is taking all precautions to shield her from the press.

According to Fox News, McCain is being accompanied by Palin on the campaign trail in swing states, but is being heavily insulated.

All her stump speeches have been from a teleprompter whereas McCain, Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden are speaking extemporaneously.

Palin is the only one of four candidates on the two presidential tickets not to appear on one of the Sunday political talk shows, which Republicans have derided as bastions of elite journalism that ordinary Americans ignore.

Thus far, Mr McCain''s surprise choice appears to be paying major dividends.

A Zogby poll released on Sunday gave the McCain-Palin ticket a four-point lead while McCain had a three-point lead in the Gallup daily tracking poll, which Obama led by eight points last Tuesday.

Democrats are trying to pressurise Palin to open herself up to more scrutiny.

Rick Davis, McCain''s campaign manager, told Fox News: "She''ll agree to an interview when we think it''s time and when she feels comfortable doing it." (ANI)