Intensity grows as presidential election looms

[Xipe Totec]

Source: Associated Press

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Fresh off a day defined by flash and cash, Barack Obama is targeting the tight states of Florida, Virginia and Missouri. A resilient John McCain aptly picks up his campaign in the Ohio town of Defiance, battling long odds to victory.

With five days until the election, the presidential race is picking up pace.

Obama, the Democratic Illinois senator, holds the leads in polls nationally and in most of the states still in competition. McCain, a Republican Arizona senator, has tried to erode Obama's lead by raising doubts about his tax plan and his ability to protect the nation.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081030/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_rdp_95

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McCain's last speech from Defiance, Ohio

[tclambert]

1. it's clear McCain has nothing, or he would have used it

No October surprise. No game-changing message. No brilliant campaign maneuver. If he had one, he would have trotted it out by now. It takes time for anything to work. There is no longer time to change enough voters' minds to win Pennsylvania. At this point, there's some question as to whether McCain can carry Arizona, his own home state.