McCain gaining in polls in swing states
New polls released yesterday by Quinnipiac University of likely voters in key swing states shows Republican John McCain closing in on Democrat Barack Obama.
A university survey in Florida shows Obama leading 46 percent to 44 percent, compared with 47 percent to 43 percent last month.
A poll in Ohio also gives Obama a 46 percent to 44 percent edge, down from 48 percent to 42 percent last month.
And a survey by the university in Pennsylvania has Obama ahead 49 percent to 42 percent, compared with 52 percent to 40 percent last month.
The pollsters say Obama's overseas trip apparently didn't help because voters are more concerned with energy costs, an issue McCain emphasized while his rival was abroad.
"While Obama was on tour, trying to show voters he could handle world affairs, voters were home trying to fill their gas tanks," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac's polling institute.
FOON RHEE
Sparring over ways to lower gas costs
With polls indicating that most Americans favor more offshore oil drilling to help ease energy prices, advocacy groups are helping Barack Obama fight back on the issue.
Obama opposes lifting the federal ban on offshore drilling. John McCain, however, strongly supports it and has been hammering Obama on the issue.
The antiwar group MoveOn.org launched a TV ad in which a middle-aged man says "That's not a solution, Mr. McCain. That's a gimmick. We expected better."
The Sierra Club's political committee is also weighing in with a TV ad that suggests that McCain is in the grip of Big Oil, while Obama offers new alternative energy proposals.
Blair Latoff, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman, responded: "No amount of special interest advertising will fool the American people into believing that ignoring our country's vast resources by continuing to rely on foreign countries is a good way to lower high gas prices."
FOON RHEE
Obama helps in fight to regain girls
KOBAR, West Bank - An American woman fighting to get back four daughters living in the West Bank with their Palestinian father has gotten help from Barack Obama.
The Democratic presidential hopeful won a promise from Palestinian leaders to look into the matter for Colleen Bargouthi, 36, who said her husband of 14 years refused to let the girls return to the United States.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ventura to speak at Ron Paul rally
WASHINGTON - Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is slated to speak at an alternative rally for Ron Paul during the GOP convention.
Rally spokesman Jesse Benton says he's hoping to boost national attention for Paul's two-day "Rally for the Republic" in Minneapolis in September.
ASSOCIATED PRESS 