Politico's Kenneth P. Vogel reports:

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Sarah Palin schmoozed with controversial media tycoon Rupert Murdoch at a swanky charity gala here Wednesday night.



Murdoch, whose New York tabloid this month editorialized about Palin being “charming, but rock-solid,” seemed quite chummy with the Republican vice presidential candidate after the two emerged together from a swanky charity gala, according to a pool report sent to the press covering Palin.



“He gave her a pat on the back … and said to her, ‘Thank you very much’” as she slid into the back of a waiting SUV wearing “a radiant smile,” the report said.



The dinner, held at a midtown Asian restaurant where guests are greeted by a reflecting pool stocked with Japanese carp and an enormous floating Buddha statue, was hosted by Murdoch’s wife Wendi Murdoch, as well as Jordan's Queen Rania and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah Brown. It was to benefit a United Nations-linked initiative seeking to reduce maternal mortality worldwide.



Rupert Murdoch – who is involved in former President Bill Clinton’s worldwide efforts to combat climate change, poverty and corruption – is known for his conservative positions, but has cultivated ties to U.S. politicians of both parties.



He owns right-leaning media outlets like Fox News and The New York Post, the latter of which surprised some observers this month by endorsing the McCain-Palin ticket over Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden. That's because Murdoch had publicly spoke favorably of Obama, even dubbing him a "rock star."



Not only was The Post’s endorsement early, but Murdoch had admitted he "played a role" in the Post’s endorsement during the Democratic primary of Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, for whom he had hosted a fundraiser. Last week, Murdoch talked about the editorial to Neil Cavuto, and described Obama's economic policies as "naive."



In addition to calling Palin “charming” and “rock-solid,” The Post’s general election endorsement of McCain-Palin praised her as and said her selection as underscoring McCain’s Washington-outsider status.



“Neither plays well with others,” the editorial said.



UPDATE: Tammy Haddad was on hand and has more.

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