Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama opened a 19-day sprint to election day on Thursday after a contentious final debate
NEW YORK: Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama opened a 19-day sprint to election day on Thursday after a contentious final debate that featured aggressive attacks by McCain on Obama’s campaign tone and tax plans.
A confident but cautious Obama told supporters in New York, “We are now 19 days not from the end but from the beginning. The amount of work that’s going to be involved for the next president will be extraordinary.”
But he warned against overconfidence down the stretch of a White House race tilting in his favour after Wednesday’s debate, reminding supporters of his surprise defeat in January’s Democratic primary in New Hampshire by rival Hillary Clinton.
The two candidates will be on the same stage again on Thursday night when they give speeches at the Al Smith dinner, a political tradition in Manhattan named for the former New York governor and a regular stop for presidential candidates.
McCain now looks to hold onto traditionally Republican states as Obama makes progress there and pours money into TV ads.
McCain planned to visit swing states but was being forced to defend traditionally Republican territory such as Virginia, Colorado and Florida, where polls show Obama leading.
Obama was heading in the next few days to Virginia and Missouri, states often out of reach for Democrats but up for grabs this year.
Some Democrats, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid angering the campaign, also said Obama is launching TV ads in West Virginia, and is considering making a move into the traditionally Republican states of Kentucky, North Dakota and Georgia.
In the historic contest, McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner of war, would become the oldest first term American president. Obama would be the country’s first black commander in chief. McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin, is the first woman nominated for the vice presidency by the Republican Party. Her addition to the ticket delighted many Republicans but appears to have alienated vital independent voters.
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