NEW YORK — Nielsen Media Research estimated that 33.6 million people watched Barack Obama's half-hour television commercial Wednesday night.

The spot ran simultaneously on CBS, NBC, Fox, BET, Univision, MSNBC and TV One, and aides said it cost the campaign roughly $4 million.

Toward the end of his 1992 campaign for president, Ross Perot ran a half-hour infomercial that 22.7 million people watched, according to Nielsen.

ABC did not run Obama's commercial, instead showing its drama "Pushing Daisies." The drama was seen Wednesday by 6.6 million people.

Obama's spot had its biggest audience on NBC, with 7.7 million viewers.

PALIN SPEAKS AT MISSOURI COLLEGE

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Sarah Palin told supporters yesterday that "Country First" is more than just her running mate John McCain's campaign slogan.

"That's going to be printed on every page in the employee handbook" if McCain's elected, the Republican vice presidential nominee told about 7,000 people at a packed arena at Southeast Missouri State University.

Hundreds more watched the Alaska governor speak on closed-circuit TV in an adjoining recreation center.

Palin discussed McCain's plans for the economy, energy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Our ticket has the track record that proves we can do this," she said. "We haven't just been talking the talk. We've been walking the walk."

GORE STUMPS FOR OBAMA IN FLORIDA

WASHINGTON — Florida was more trick than treat for Al Gore in 2000, yet the former vice president is heading to the state on Halloween to campaign for Barack Obama.

Gore and his wife, Tipper, plan to hold two rallies today to urge voters to cast their ballots early for the Democratic presidential nominee, Obama's campaign said yesterday. The Gores will stop in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

"Nobody knows better that every single vote counts — especially in Florida — than Vice President Al Gore," said Steve Schale, Obama's state director.

MCCAIN BACKER GETS PROBATION

PITTSBURGH — A volunteer for John McCain's presidential campaign agreed yesterday to enter a probation program for first-time offenders for falsely reporting that a Barack Obama supporter robbed and assaulted her and scratched a "B" on her cheek.

Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas, claimed the attack happened when a robber saw her McCain bumper sticker. Todd appeared before a city judge and waived her right to a hearing and was to be released from jail yesterday.

Under the agreement, her criminal record will be expunged if she stays out of trouble and gets mental treatment on probation. Most people spend a year on probation in the program, which is for first-time, nonviolent offenders.