WEST CHESTER, OHIO -- On the campaign trail, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is starting the day in the critical battleground state of Ohio.

The Republicans are trailing Democratic rival Barack Obama by three points, or 50 percent to 47 percent, in the state. That's according to the latest CNN/TIME/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted October third through sixth.

During her rally in West Chester, Palin criticized Obama's tax plans and said "Joe the Plumber," the surprise star of Wednesday night's debate, provided a breakthrough. "We want to cut taxes and our opponent wants to raise them," Palin said.  "...and you know, we've really got to hand it to Joe. Somehow he got Barack Obama to finally state his intentions in plain language."