Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

"I'm not afraid of the fight, I'm ready for it," said McCain,
continuing his sharp assault on Obama at a noisy rally opening his
campaign day.


      Palin defended the campaign's harsh attacks on Obama.


      "Our opponent is not being candid with you about his tax
plans," said Palin. "It is not mean-spirited, and it is not
negative campaigning to call out someone on their record."


      Obama backers waving signs briefly interrupted the rally, a move
Palin dismissed.


      "When we get a protest like that I'm always tempted to tell
security, `let them stay, maybe they'll learn a thing or two,"'
Palin said.


      The campaign day was complicated by wintry weather that forced
the cancellation of an outdoor event in Quakertown. McCain headed
to North Carolina and Florida before the day was over. Palin was
heading on her own to other events in Pennsylvania after the rally
in Hershey.


      Sagging in polls nationally and in battleground states, McCain
worked to light a fire under his supporters.


      "Nothing is inevitable, we never give up," he said. "Let's go
win this election and get this country moving again."


      Most polls have shown Obama with a lead in the race for
Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes, but McCain dismissed those
surveys and urged a sprint to the finish.


      "It's wonderful to be back in Pennsylvania," he said. "It's
wonderful to fool the pundits because we're going to win the state
of Pennsylvania."


      Pennsylvania is the only state won by Democrat John Kerry in
2004 where McCain is still mounting a full-scale campaign. Both the
Republican and Democratic tickets are focusing heavily in the
closing days on a few key battleground states, including
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Virginia.


      McCain continued to label Obama a traditional liberal Democrat
seeking to redistribute the wealth.


      "Sen. Obama is running to be redistributor in chief, I'm
running to be commander in chief," said McCain. "Sen. Obama is
running to punish the successful, I'm running to make everyone
successful."


      McCain also returned to the theme that he's the candidate who is
ready to take office, seasoned by a military career and his
experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He brought up their
differences over the Iraq war. McCain opposes and Obama favors a
timetable for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.


      "Have you ever heard the word `victory' pass through Obama's
lips?" McCain asked backers. "My friends, we're winning in
Iraq."


      McCain hammered that message later in Fayetteville, N.C., a
battleground with a big military presence, like nearby Fort Bragg.


      "We need a president who has actually fought for change and
made it happen," said McCain, warning of a dangerous world that
he's best equipped to face. "The next president won't have time to
get used to the office."


      McCain argued his military career and prisoner-of-war background
have shaped his life.


      "I've been tested, Sen. Obama has not been tested, I won't be a
president who has to be tested," he said. "I've fought for you in
places where defeat meant more than returning to the Senate."


      While Palin has caused some headaches for the ticket, she's
popular with the Republican base and she added energy to a rally
before nearly 10,000 cheering backers.


      "You are such a welcoming and patriotic state," Palin said.


"I know we have many patriots in the crowd today."


      Palin also predicted a tight election: "It's going to be a
hard-fought contest and it's going to come down to the wire."

Gallery

Obama revs up young crowds, shoots for Pa. and Va.

Norm Coleman calls on Sen. Ted Stevens to resign

McCain dials back Minn. ad buys in final week

McCain, Obama begin final push in battleground states

Slideshow: On the campaign trail

Republican John McCain and running mate
Sarah Palin told a Pennsylvania audience Tuesday that "it's
wonderful to fool the pundits" and vowed to pull out an upset win
over Democratic rival Barack Obama.

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

John McCain speaks at a rally in New Mexico

McCain says pundits being fooled, promises victory

Go Deeper.

Like this?