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Candidates sprint toward election

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 20, 2008 09:52 AM

Both presidential candidates are in important battleground states today as they sprint toward the election, 15 days away.

Democrat Barack Obama is campaigning across Florida, where early voting starts today and where fellow Democrats narrowly lost in both 2000 and 2004. The state, and its 27 electoral votes, appear to be a must-win for Republican John McCain.

McCain is in Missouri, which also went Republican in both 2000 and 2004, but where Obama has taken the lead in the polls and in St. Louis on Saturday drew a crowd of 100,000 -- the largest of the campaign in the United States.

The Republican has also announced plans to return to New Hampshire, for a Wednesday morning rally at St. Anselm College in Manchester.

His running mate, Sarah Palin, is in the swing state of Colorado today. Speaking of Palin, she seemed to go somewhat off message Sunday night, telling reporters in Colorado that she wasn't a fan of automated phone calls to voters.

"If I called all the shots, and if I could wave a magic wand," Palin said, "I would be sitting at a kitchen table with more and more Americans, talking to them about our plan to get the economy back on track and winning the war and not having to rely on the old conventional ways of campaigning that includes those robocalls and includes spending so much money on the television ads that, I think, is kind of draining out there in terms of Americans' attention span."

McCain's campaign has defended the robocalls, which started last week in several battleground states, including Maine and New Hampshire, and criticized Obama on his association with 1970s radical William Ayers, among other issues.

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As polarizing a figure as Palin has been and as much as I despise her consistent hate mongering, I've find myself agreeing with her on this one. Go figure ;-)

Posted by Mary October 20, 08 10:32 AM
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As a former Californian and Bostonian, who now resides in Florida, this is my first time living in a swing state. The campaign is so intense down here, between ads on the radio/tv and between people. I have been sign waving for Obama (in a positive manner) on a busy intersection in Broward County with others, and you would not believe the hateful comments that have been yelled at us by people driving by or by McCain supporters standing next to us. We have been called "terrorists," "commies," and the worst - "N lovers." It is a whole other world over here versus what I was used to in CA or MA! But I can tell you, the McCain supporters appeared scared because it looks really good that Florida might be a blue state come the morning of Nov. 5th!

Posted by Danielle Meyer October 20, 08 10:39 AM
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Boston Globe~ be on notice: Every paper who prints an article that contains positive news about the Obama Campaign, and/or negative news about the McCain Campaign is totally in the tank for Obama.

Whatever that means... is it a fish tank? Think tank, gas tank, or military tank? Does anyone know? Especially those of you that keep using the expression?

Posted by MichieMich October 20, 08 10:39 AM
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Palin today on banning gay marriages . . . “But I certainly can express my own opinion here and take actions that I believe would be best for traditional marriage and that's casting my votes and speaking up for traditional marriage that, that instrument that it's the foundation of our society is that strong family and that's based on that traditional definition of marriage, so I do support that.”

There's something seriously wrong with a talking mind that uses the word "that" NINE times in one sentence. She's reached the Bush zone . . . nobody listens to him anymore either. I guess that makes her THAT lame duck VP candidate!

Posted by ricCA October 20, 08 11:26 AM
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DanielleMeyer: It's about what I'd expect.... especially after reading the ranting extreme comments from diehard Repubs on various boards. The last of the Republican "base" are acting like trapped rats - their delusions are being confronted/destroyed. I truly don't see how anyone can still support or believe what McCain says - it must create extreme pressure within those people.

Posted by Chris October 20, 08 12:22 PM
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As an early Obama supporter, I would be lying if I did not say the tactics of the republicans make me nervous. Palin is CLEARLY not ready to lead our country. A vote for McCain is also a vote for Palin as his back-up. I spoke with a staunch Republican this weekend who does not support Palin...yet she will still vote for McCain. What is wrong with this picture?

Posted by Hopeful in VA. October 20, 08 05:10 PM
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