Obama Continues Push Into McCain Territory

Democrat Campaigns Hard In Traditional Red States, But GOP Rival Predicts Election Day Upset

(CBS/ AP)  Despite John McCain's prediction of an upset, Barack Obama reached for a landslide Friday, invading his rival's home state with TV ads and building a lead in early voting in key battlegrounds as the presidential race headed into a hectic final weekend.

McCain charged that Obama, bidding to become the first black president, "began his campaign in the liberal left lane of politics and has never left it. He's more liberal than a senator who calls himself a socialist," he added in Hanoverton, Ohio, a reference to Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont.

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Read the latest news from the campaign in Ohio from CBS News and around the Web

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Yet with the economy almost certainly in a recession and the country clamoring for change after eight years of Republican rule, even some of McCain's allies conceded the obvious. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said it would take a "major struggle for him to win" - although he quickly added the Arizona senator had come back before when he had been counted out.

Privately, McCain's aides said their man trailed Obama by 4 points nationwide in internal polling.

The latest CBS News/New York Times poll, released yesterday showed Obama ahead 52 percent to 41 percent.

An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll of likely voters put the Democrat ahead, 51 to 43, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The same survey gave McCain reason to hope - one in seven voters, 14 percent of the total - said they were undecided or might yet change their minds.

While the race for the White House drew most of the attention, minority Republicans in Congress braced for the loss of more seats in both the House and Senate.

Some said fresh polling in North Carolina suggested that incumbent GOP Elizabeth Dole had fallen further behind since airing an ad that tried to tie Democratic rival Kay Hagan to atheists.

Four days before the election, Obama was expanding his reach, and drawing large crowds as he moved methodically from one state to another that voted Republican in 2004. (Read more in Horserace)

After a stop home in Chicago to share Halloween with his two daughters, Obama took a bus ride about 30 miles across the state border, capping his day with a rally in Highland, Ind. "We are four days away from changing the United States of America," he proclaimed to a cheering crowd on a comfortable October evening.

Indiana is one of about a half-dozen states that went for President twice but remain up for grabs late this election season. Bush won the state by a 60-39 percent margin in 2004, and the competitive nature of the state this time around shows the strength of Obama's standing.

Obama used the occasion of Halloween to rib McCain in a new way, saying the Republican wore his usual costume: "Just like every year, he's going as George W. Bush."

Earlier in Iowa, Obama said, "What you started here in Iowa has swept the nation." His victory in the state's Democratic caucuses on Jan. 3 set him on the path to the party's nomination, and now to a lead in the presidential polls in the campaign's final hours.

Obama told supporters Friday to expect McCain's campaign to end in a crescendo of attacks on him. "More of the slash and burn, say-anything, do-anything politics that's calculated to divide and distract; to tear us apart instead of bringing us together," Obama told 25,000 in Des Moines, Iowa.

One senior adviser said the Illinois senator had been given the names of potential Cabinet and White House staff picks for review but had not had much time to consider them. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

Obama could name a chief of staff as early as next week if he wins the election, in an effort to project a sense of urgency. Aides have contacted Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to consider a possible appointment to the post, but no job has been offered.

Aides announced he would air television commercials in McCain's home state of Arizona as well as in North Dakota and Georgia. He had run ads in the latter two states earlier in the campaign before suspending that effort.

The ad in McCain's state was a soft sell in a campaign that has had its share of attacks. This spot featured endorsements from former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Warren Buffett, the nation's best-known investor.

Even so, McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, dismissed it as a waste. "We encourage them to pick other states that we intend to win" to spend their money, he said.

Davis contended, "We are witnessing perhaps, I believe, one of the greatest comebacks since John McCain won the primary."

Privately, some Republicans expressed concerned about early voting trends, although the party had yet to unleash its final 72-hour program, designed to reach millions of voters deemed sympathetic to McCain and the Republicans.

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Calculate your own path to the presidency with our Electoral Vote prediction map.

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Statistics showed Democrats ahead among pre-Election Day voters in Iowa, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. Bush won all six in 2004, and McCain needs to win most of them to claim the White House this year.

In Georgia, one of the states where Obama began advertising on Friday, official figures show 35 percent of the early votes have been cast by blacks, and lines have been longest in and around reliably Democratic Atlanta. In the 2004 election, blacks accounted for 24 percent of the state's ballots.

McCain was on the second day of a bus tour through battleground Ohio, a state that supported Bush and has voted with the winner in each presidential election for two decades.

"We're closing, my friends, and we're going to win in Ohio. We're a few points down but we're coming back and we're coming back strong," he said.

Later Friday, Schwarzenegger joined him at a rally in Columbus.

"John McCain has served his country longer in a POW camp than his opponent has in the United States Senate," Schwarzenegger said. "I only play an action hero in the movies. John McCain is a real action hero."

McCain hit the same theme in a new television ad that had the feel of a campaign-closing appeal.

In it, he pledged to fix the economy, cut government waste and safeguard the nation's security.

"I've served my country since I was 17 years old. And spent five years longing for her shores. I came home dedicated to a cause greater than my own," said the former Navy pilot who was shot down, held and tortured for more than five years as a Vietnam prisoner of war.

[wheear]

The last 28 years in the White House:
Bush Jr. - 8 yrs Rep.
Clinton - 8 yrs Dem.
Dad Bush - 4 yrs Rep.
Reagan - 8 yrs Rep.
Truthfully the Republicans have had the oppotunity to fix things. In ofiice over 70% of the time during the last 28 years! Now all they do is bicker and complain. I voted for all of these Republicans. There is nothing positive to show for all of this time. Until the GOP takes a long truthful look at where it needs to change and make changes... they won''''t get my vote. People losing homes, wall street bail out, 4000+ dead in a war we shouldn''''t be in, McCain selected Palin and we haven''''t stopped one abortion. I thought it truly was a party of values and principles. But honestly it isn''''t. I hope this message gets to the Republican and Democratic party. Republicans, enjoy the next 4-8 years off.

[targaray-2009]

The Choice in this Election Could Not be Clearer ...

- CHOOSE HOPE - VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[usvoter1]

why can''t Obama prove he is a U. S. citizen, its bec ause he''s not and shouldn''t be allowed to be running. He''s born in Kenya. The U. S. Constitution states it clearly you have to be a U. S. citizen to be President of the United States and the Supreme Court has a case in court now and obama will be forced to turn over anything it has gained because he has done so with fraudently intention. Let Hillary run but get the truth out.

[hissteps4u]

Wheear----well put I think they will not enjoy the next 8 years off but will conspire and sneak around trying to do little distracting things to upset the new order of things we can surley count on that.

As a Republican myself I sure hope the american People rally around Obama and force real change in washington it needs to be swept out and watered down the stench of strife is to ripe and it need a real cleaning out.

[hissteps4u]

USvoter1 your ignorance is appauling but not suprising to see from so many who use such ignorant tactics and spread such garbage.

Thats one of the Many reasons why McCain will loose this election the Lies and falsehoods spread by the party are appauling and the ignorant seem to attracted to such lies easily....

[spinproof]

Sen. John McCain from his own mouth said he voted with Pres. Bush over 90% of the time, the truth is Sen. McCain voted with Pres. Bush 92% of the time "officially", more than any other Republican! If anyone thinks voting for McCain is NOT really voting for a Bush 3rd term then they must be at least ill. McCain is as close to a Bush 3rd term as it gets based on the "official" facts of his "official" voting record! If a Bush 3rd term is not a problem then McCain is your man. If it quacks like a Duck ...

[spinproof]

If McCain wins he will bring back the draft and go after Iran for Israel, the U.S. will be in endless wars for 100 more years like McCain promised. McCain does not have an economic Policy because McCain''s economic Policy is to give Americans jobs fighting in his wars and continuing the wars Bush started. McWar!

[FHMullane]

Vote for Hope... Vote for Obama. Don''t listen to the scare stuff. He has the brains... He will appoint the experience. McCain is in the past and is too likely to put us into more war.

We cannot go to war unless we are threatened directly. We must learn to negotiate. Bush could not.

This is the last opportunity to salvage our greatness... don''t blow it. I don''t care how long McCain has been serving this country. He has been well paid in the Senate and needs to retire with that very cushy retirement package...

He is past the mandatory retirement age for many less demanding jobs.

[neederbaur]

ZOGBY SATURDAY: Republican John McCain has pulled back within the margin of error... The three-day average holds steady, but McCain outpolled Obama 48% to 47% in Friday, one day, polling. He is beginning to cut into Obama''s lead among independents, is now leading among blue collar voters, has strengthened his lead among investors and among men, and is walloping Obama among NASCAR voters. Joe the Plumber may get his license after all... HAHAHAHA DONT COUNT US OUT.CAN YOU SAY BRADLEY?

[freedom_2008]

The past 8 years have been an absolute disaster. It''s time for hope. It''s time for peace. It''s time for prosperity. It''s time for Mr. McCain to retire.

[jenns12345]

watch this video...see if you feel the same when it''s over. If you think McCain is going to bring back the draft, you''ll see that with Obama''s thinking, there will not be time for draft because the war will be on our soil and we will be fighting for our lives...but we won''t be armed, since he wants to ban handguns in the home, as well as stop defense and intelligence spending. If he wins, America loses...BIG TIME. Just watch--this is Obama''s speech--his plans when he is in office...very interesting scary stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sj91NH5fvw

[jenns12345]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvvUp2unh6o....here is Obama saying we can remove the 2nd amendment, it''s not needed anymore! This guy is something! Scary!

[guerino4]

PAY ATTENTION EVERYBODY
go see that video at this adress
http://www.reopen911.info/video/hacking-democracy.html

This is a reporting concerning the automatic voting machine. The web site is french but the reporting is in english and please share this adress as much as you can because the biggest problem is that peoples forget. Be aware when you go to the poll.

FOR A REAL DEMOCRATY

[jenns12345]

Look folks---there are only 2 people to choose from. you''ve got a true American veteran and prisoner of war who has been an open book for all that has been asked of him. Then you have a black racist, questionable whether he is a naturalized citizen and can even run for President, who has scary friends that he is now backing away from, saying he made some ''bad judgement'' calls. HELLO--he''s had these friends for 20 years! He won''t release any documentation on himself, so what does he have to hide? If he truly is honest and honorable, he''d just hand over his original birth certificate and US Passport. They are accusing him of only having an INDONESIAN passport. If this isn''t true, why not just prove it? It wouldn''t take but a few minutes to be done w/it. Same as records on his campaign donations, being accused of receiving money from his terrorist friends in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia---1000''s of donations $1.00 short of the $200 mark when you have to show where they came from. He is refusing, saying he legally doesn''t have to...if he has nothing to hide, why not release your records? Why would you let these serious questions go unanswered? I can go on and on and on. How could anyone even THINK about voting for Obama, when he is hiding so much? McCain does have his faults, but they don''t compare to Obama. At least McCain is a true American and not a racist!

[guerino4]

PAY ATTENTION EVERYBODY
go see that video at this adress
http://www.reopen911.info/video/hacking-democracy.html

This is a reporting concerning the automatic voting machine. The web site is french but the reporting is in english and please share this adress as much as you can because the biggest problem is that peoples forget. Be aware when you go to the poll.

FOR A REAL DEMOCRATY

[msobamaishot]

stop calling Obama a racist...he''s half white and was raised by his white mother and white grandmother. i can''t wait for this election to be over so all you hate mongering conservatives can crawl back to your trailers.

can''t you see you''re all falling for the same old conservative politics of fear? they''re making Obama seem as un-american as possible and dangerous for our nation. first they call him a muslim, then they say he''s friends with terrrorists, and now they''re calling him a socialist. are you seriously falling for the same tricks they pulled back in 04''?

[jenns12345]

I''m calling Obama a racist because he is racist. He say''s in his book that he considers himself black, not white. He went to church for 20years w/pastor Wright, who is also a racist...poor pitiful black fold being suppressed. Give me a break! This is 2008! Slavery is OVER! I''m just stating the facts. If you would like to watch part of the racist sermon...here you go...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc

[jenns12345]

By the way, he was really raised by a Black indonesian man of Nation of Islam religion...Lolo Soetoro...Barack was Barry Soetoro, and was raised by this man and took his last name. When he went to Occidental College, his name was Barry. His 2 other college roomates were also from Indonesia. If you like to see info on his childhood w/Lolo....watch this...http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/breaking-photo-documents-barry-soetoro-indonesian/

[jenns12345]

McCain is in great shape. His mother Roberta is also in great health at the ripe old age of 95. He is a tough guy who already survived being a POW w/broken arms. He also survived cancer and is now cancer free. His family tree has several people living to 98-100 years old so I think we will be fine for the next 4 years! Only God knows who will live and die. Could be me or you tomorrow, you just never know.

[jenns12345]

Everyone should take a quick look at this---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sj91NH5fvw

[ppaaxx]

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=hU9iCANi02o&NR=1

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What you see is what you get!

[ppaaxx]

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep''s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

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If you love America then don''t vote for Barack Obama.

-- a Vietnam War Veteran

[ppaaxx]

http://video.msn.com/dw.aspx?mkt=en-us&from=truveo&
vid=821b3793-633e-48c7-b4c5-0adacb585b6c

Barack Obama says, "After 9/11, it was understandable that everybody rallied around the President..."

Barack Obama didn''t! He brags that he was the only one who didn''t vote for the war against Iraq.

[ppaaxx]

James David Manning points out that America is swallowing the big lie that Barack Obama told about spending 20 years with Reverend Jeremiah Wright and not agreeing with what he preached.

"there are some lies and then there''s some LIES..."

[airboatboy1]

http://therealmccain.com/

Check out your man here.

[merlgrey]

Barack Obama says, "After 9/11, it was understandable that everybody rallied around the President..."

Barack Obama didn''''t! He brags that he was the only one who didn''''t vote for the war against Iraq.
Posted by KyRock1 at 02:27 AM :



kyrock1... i''m not for obama or mccain... but i''m confused as to these two statements regarding 911 and iraq you made and thier relevence to each other?

[ppaaxx]

"The people know he''s lying... they don''t care... they...don''t...care...! Lying and truth is not an issue with them. Well, we understand that politicians are given to lying, that''s par for the course. There are some lies and then there''s some LIES..."

Obama has published two books; they''re best sellers. Most of his income is from the sales of these two books. FoxNews pointed out from these best sellers where Barack Obama states he intentionally sought out and cultivated relationships with Leftist teachers. He found radical mentors in the university he attended.

[ppaaxx]

i''''m confused as to these two statements regarding 911 and iraq you made and thier relevence to each other?

Posted by merlgrey at 02:53 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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Barack Obama states that after 9/11 EVERYBODY naturally rallied around the president but HE DIDN''T. Barack Obama voted AGAINST the Iraq War when EVERYBODY ELSE VOTED FOR IT.

[ppaaxx]

McCain is more obnoxious than a talking shirt stain.

Posted by Sky_Five at 02:33 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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I''d rather have an obnoxious politician than a lying one.

[gramto8]

Barack Obama states that after 9/11 EVERYBODY naturally rallied around the president but HE DIDN''''T. Barack Obama voted AGAINST the Iraq War when EVERYBODY ELSE VOTED FOR IT.

Posted by KyRock1 at 02:59 AM : Nov 01, 2008

Hey KyRock1

In case you haven''t heard yet, NONE of the people who attacked NYC, the Pentagon, or PA were from Iraq. Most were from Saudi Arabia. IRAQ DID NOT ATTACK US!! 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq!

[ppaaxx]

check out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB
-qkfUHc

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"He ain''t rich..." -- Jeremiah Wright

"The Obama family%u2019s newfound wealth %u2013 they reported income of $1.65 million in 2005 and nearly $1 million in 2006..."

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/26/nation/na-obamataxes26

[airboatboy1]

I''''d rather have an obnoxious politician than a lying one.

No wonder Bush is so well liked. He''s both!

[ppaaxx]

In case you haven''''t heard yet, NONE of the people who attacked NYC, the Pentagon, or PA were from Iraq. Most were from Saudi Arabia. IRAQ DID NOT ATTACK US!! 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq!

Posted by gramto8 at 03:08 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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*** does this have to do with my post?

[ppaaxx]

Posted by Sky_Five at 01:05 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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Obviously, you don''t know very much about FDR.

[gramto8]

In case you haven''''''''t heard yet, NONE of the people who attacked NYC, the Pentagon, or PA were from Iraq. Most were from Saudi Arabia. IRAQ DID NOT ATTACK US!! 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq!

Posted by gramto8 at 03:08 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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*** does this have to do with my post?

Posted by KyRock1 at 03:15 AM : Nov 01, 2008

What does ''rallying around'' Bush have to do with agreeing to attack a country that hasn''t attacked or even tried to attack the US?

[merlgrey]

Barack Obama states that after 9/11 EVERYBODY naturally rallied around the president but HE DIDN''''T. Barack Obama voted AGAINST the Iraq War when EVERYBODY ELSE VOTED FOR IT. Posted by KyRock1 at 02:59 AM :

sorry dude.. still not understanding the your connection between rallying around the president after 911, and the voting yes or no on the use of force in iraq. please explain.

[merlgrey]

ps. not everyone else voted for it either. some in congress arent blind followers.

[ddrbc]

Americans will get what they deserve!

Vote
o BA M a
bi D EN

[ddrbc]

Vote

o BA Ma
bi D EN

[ppaaxx]

stop calling Obama a racist...he''s half white and was raised by his white mother and white grandmother.

Posted by msobamaishot at 12:54 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn''t. But she is a typical white person who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn''t know, there''s a reaction that''s been bred into our experiences that don''t go away, and that sometimes comes out in the wrong way, and that''s just the nature of race in our society.
Barack Obama
Interview with WIP, March 20, 2008.

"sometimes comes out in the wrong way,"

[ppaaxx]

sorry dude.. still not understanding the your connection between rallying around the president after 911, and the voting yes or no on the use of force in iraq. please explain.

Posted by merlgrey at 03:23 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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I cannot make it any simpler. If you don''t get, then you don''t get it.

[ppaaxx]

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&vote=00237&session=2

ps. not everyone else voted for it either. some in congress arent blind followers.

Posted by merlgrey at 03:26 AM : Nov 01, 2008

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Measure Title: A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&vote=00237&session=2

I cannot find Barack Obama''s name on this page of senators who voted on the Iraq War.

[merlgrey]

I cannot make it any simpler. If you don''''t get, then you don''''t get it.
Posted by KyRock1 at 03:56 AM :

youre right i dont get it. but please try to explain it simpler. again, im not voting obama or mccain... but i still dont get the connection you are making between the separate issues of support of the president immediately after 911, and voting yes or no to appprove the use of force in iraq .

if your wife gets knocked up by the mailman... do you go and punch your sons gym teacher in the face?

[ppaaxx]

"Barack Obama didn''t vote for the war resolution because he didn''t have a vote. He was a State Senator at the time and not a U.S. Senator."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080202222530AALOEHI

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&vote=00237&session=2

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I found out the reason Barack Obama didn''t vote for the Iraq War. He wasn''t a United States senator! This example shows how Obama spins the truth.

[ppaaxx]

http://video.msn.com/dw.aspx?mkt=en-us&from=truveo&vid=821b3793-633e-48c7-b4c5-0adacb585b6c

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Barack Obama states we have two hostile nations -- Iran and North Korea -- developing nuclear weapons yet he wants to cut back on defense development and spending!

[merlgrey]

ok ,i understand what you are saying. got it.

[ppaaxx]

Raymond Duke July 3rd, 2008 6:13 pm ET

Does anybody no where he stands. He changes with the breeze or what ever else that will help him. ... I have never heard nothing out of his mouth except at first I didn''t vote for the Iraq war. Of course he wasn''t in the senate to cast a vote.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/03/obama-denies-altering-iraq-withdrawal-timeline/

[ppaaxx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gexyfVpFMU&NR=1

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"I would essentially have to start now! Before serving a day in the Senate." -- Barack Obama

Obama admits he''s not ready to be president!

[jsilver2th]

Just in-

Projected Safe States for John McCain and drag on the ticket: Idaho, Utah, Alaska.

All the rest to President Elect Barack Obama!!!

HA HA GOP is TOAST
Nancy Pelosi is gonna make you eat sprouts and worship Matt Damon while you must listen to Keith Olbermann retraining programs. HA HA

[ppaaxx]

http://westernfrontamerica.com/2008/08/21/colin-powell-powell-doctrine/

Obama, a politician who ran to the left of Hillary Rodham Clinton on one issue alone %u2013 %u201CI didn%u2019t vote for the Iraq war%u201D

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I wish I could find the web page where Barack Obama says he''s the only one who didn''t vote for the Iraq War.