With Less Than A Week, Candidates Hit Trail
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The presidential and vice presidential candidates have been in three battleground states. Republican John McCain and Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden were in Florida. McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, was in Ohio while Democrat Barack Obama was in North Carolina.
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
This is All Things Considered from NPR News. I'm Michele Norris.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
And I'm Robert Siegel. It'll be all over, including the shouting, we hope, by this time next week. For now, the presidential race comes down to this, nonstop stumping in the swing states, trying to leave no voter behind.
NORRIS: John McCain was in Miami today, where Florida polls show a tight race. McCain was telling crowds not to count him out while saying Obama was overconfident.
Senator JOHN MCCAIN (Republican, Arizona; 2008 Republican Presidential Nominee): My opponent is working out the details with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid.
(Soundbite of crowd booing)
Senator MCCAIN: Of their plans to raise your taxes, increase spending, and concede defeat in Iraq. He's measuring the drapes, and he's planned his first address to the nation, an infomercial. By the way, I will never delay the start of the World Series for an infomercial.
SIEGEL: Well, the Fox television network is delaying the first pitch, but only by a few minutes, and Fox says it would do the same for McCain.
NORRIS: In Raleigh, North Carolina another close contest. Obama hammered McCain for calling him a socialist. Then Obama threw this counter-punch.
Senator BARACK OBAMA (Democrat, Illinois; 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee): Ask yourself, can you name one thing that John McCain is offering to improve this economy?
(Soundbite of responding crowd)
Senator OBAMA: You don't know? Because he spends all his time attacking me. I know that my opponent's worried about losing an election, but I'm worried about Americans who are losing their homes and losing their jobs and losing their life savings. I'm worried about the middle class, and I won't just fight for your vote in the final days of the election. I will fight for you every single day that I'm in the White House because that's why I'm running - for you.
NORRIS: On to Toledo, Ohio, where Sarah Palin gave her second policy speech of the campaign, promising energy independence and more.
Governor SARAH PALIN (Republican, Alaska; 2008 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee): And we'll deliver not only electricity, but jobs to some of the hardest hit areas - hardest hit by these economic times.
NORRIS: And back to Florida, where Democrat Joe Biden was in Jupiter conjuring up the spirit of the season.
Senator JOE BIDEN (Democrat, Delaware; 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee): Now, look, folks. I know Halloween is coming. But John McCain dressed as an agent of change is a costume that just won't sell to the American people.
(Soundbite of crowd applauding)
SIEGEL: Also, when that Obama half-hour airs tonight, McCain's spokeswoman says that he will be away from the TV, flying from Florida to Ohio.
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