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McCain attacks Obama's tax plans McCain attacks Obama's tax plans
(10 minutes later)
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has again attacked his rival's policy of re-distributing wealth, saying the middle class would suffer.Republican presidential candidate John McCain has again attacked his rival's policy of re-distributing wealth, saying the middle class would suffer.
Mr McCain told supporters in the western state of New Mexico that his plan was to help businesses expand and create jobs for Americans.Mr McCain told supporters in the western state of New Mexico that his plan was to help businesses expand and create jobs for Americans.
Democratic rival Barack Obama is to resume his campaign in Nevada after two days visiting his ailing grandmother. But his rival, Barack Obama, hit back saying Mr McCain was trying to distance himself the Bush policies.
The Western states could be key in the 4 November presidential vote.The Western states could be key in the 4 November presidential vote.
Mr McCain began his weekend campaigning in New Mexico, a state won by the Republicans in 2004.Mr McCain began his weekend campaigning in New Mexico, a state won by the Republicans in 2004.
He told the rally: "We need to win New Mexico, and with your help we are going to win."
He attacked Mr Obama's policies, saying: "He believes in redistributing wealth. That means taking money from one group of Americans and giving it to another. We've seen that move before in other countries. That's not America."He attacked Mr Obama's policies, saying: "He believes in redistributing wealth. That means taking money from one group of Americans and giving it to another. We've seen that move before in other countries. That's not America."
Barack Obama has a backbone of steel. Joe BidenDemocrat vice-presidential candidateBarack Obama has a backbone of steel. Joe BidenDemocrat vice-presidential candidate
He said he would "create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans".He said he would "create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans".
He said 50% of small businesses - and their 16 million employees - would feel the impact of Democrat tax rises, to pay for nearly $1 trillion of new government spending proposed by Mr Obama.He said 50% of small businesses - and their 16 million employees - would feel the impact of Democrat tax rises, to pay for nearly $1 trillion of new government spending proposed by Mr Obama.
Mr Obama has proposed a tax increase on the 5% of taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year and advocates tax cuts for those who make less.Mr Obama has proposed a tax increase on the 5% of taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year and advocates tax cuts for those who make less.
Mr McCain said: "America didn't become the greatest country on earth by giving our money to the government to spread the wealth around.Mr McCain said: "America didn't become the greatest country on earth by giving our money to the government to spread the wealth around.
"We believe in spreading opportunity for those who need jobs and those who create them. And that's exactly what I'll do as president of the United States."
With just a week of full campaigning left, polls put Mr Obama ahead overall.With just a week of full campaigning left, polls put Mr Obama ahead overall.
A poll for Newsweek put Mr Obama at 53% support and McCain at 40%.A poll for Newsweek put Mr Obama at 53% support and McCain at 40%.
NBC News reported that Mr Obama was now leading in enough states to put him over the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency.NBC News reported that Mr Obama was now leading in enough states to put him over the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency.
Mr McCain admitted he was a few points down, but told the rally "don't give up hope".Mr McCain admitted he was a few points down, but told the rally "don't give up hope".
"Stand up and fight. America's worth fighting for"."Stand up and fight. America's worth fighting for".
And the Obama team remains suitably cautious, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. Speaking at a rally in Reno, Nevada, Mr Obama began his speech by dismissing the "ugly phone calls" and "outrageous comments" by the Republican team, as aimed at "stopping change".
He outlined examples of support Mr McCain had given to President Bush during the past eight years, including having less regulation for businesses.
He called for a "real debate" on the economy, saying: "I think we've had enough of Bush-McCain economics".
Despite the poll ratings, the Obama team remains suitably cautious, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington.
A veteran Democratic Party pollster, Stan Greenburg, said an earthquake election was in the offing after which nothing will look the same.A veteran Democratic Party pollster, Stan Greenburg, said an earthquake election was in the offing after which nothing will look the same.
Mr Obama spent Thursday and Friday with his grandmother as he spoke of concerns that she might not live until election day.Mr Obama spent Thursday and Friday with his grandmother as he spoke of concerns that she might not live until election day.
He is to hold two rallies in Nevada and then head to New Mexico.He is to hold two rallies in Nevada and then head to New Mexico.
Mr McCain spent Friday in Colorado, which along with Nevada and New Mexico are considered target states.Mr McCain spent Friday in Colorado, which along with Nevada and New Mexico are considered target states.
Tax clashTax clash
All three states went to President George W Bush in 2004 with narrow Republican majorities.All three states went to President George W Bush in 2004 with narrow Republican majorities.
Nevada has five electoral college votes, Colorado nine and New Mexico five.Nevada has five electoral college votes, Colorado nine and New Mexico five.
Mr Obama seems to be building up momentum in New Mexico, the US state with the highest proportion of Hispanic voters.Mr Obama seems to be building up momentum in New Mexico, the US state with the highest proportion of Hispanic voters.
The latest recent Gallup poll showed Mr Obama leading among registered Hispanic voters 61% to Mr McCain's 29%.The latest recent Gallup poll showed Mr Obama leading among registered Hispanic voters 61% to Mr McCain's 29%.
At a rally in Virginia on Saturday, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden criticised "negative" campaigning by the Republican camp. At a rally in Virginia on Saturday, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden also criticised "negative" campaigning by the Republican camp.
He hit out at automated phone calls used by the McCain campaign, which questioned the character of Mr Obama.He hit out at automated phone calls used by the McCain campaign, which questioned the character of Mr Obama.
"Barack Obama has a backbone of steel," he said."Barack Obama has a backbone of steel," he said.
"He can take 10 more days of these personal attacks, but our country cannot take four more years of the economic policies of George W Bush in the hands of John McCain.""He can take 10 more days of these personal attacks, but our country cannot take four more years of the economic policies of George W Bush in the hands of John McCain."
John McCain is holding rallies in New Mexico Barack Obama had concerns about his grandmother's health
Mr Obama has said his rival's tax plans favour wealthy corporations.Mr Obama has said his rival's tax plans favour wealthy corporations.
The Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin took a break from campaigning in Pennsylvania and Missouri on Friday to testify at an Alaska Personnel Board investigation into allegations she abused her power as Alaskan governor.The Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin took a break from campaigning in Pennsylvania and Missouri on Friday to testify at an Alaska Personnel Board investigation into allegations she abused her power as Alaskan governor.
The governor is accused of violating ethics rules when she fired the state's top law enforcement official, Walt Monegan, allegedly because he refused to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.The governor is accused of violating ethics rules when she fired the state's top law enforcement official, Walt Monegan, allegedly because he refused to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.
Mrs Palin seems at the moment to be unable to shake off her bad press - the news stories about lavish spending on her wardrobe and make-up cost of $150,000 drowning out the messages she would prefer to stress, our correspondent says.Mrs Palin seems at the moment to be unable to shake off her bad press - the news stories about lavish spending on her wardrobe and make-up cost of $150,000 drowning out the messages she would prefer to stress, our correspondent says.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she said there was gender bias operating as male candidates rarely came under such scrutiny.In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she said there was gender bias operating as male candidates rarely came under such scrutiny.
"It's kind of painful to be criticised for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," she said."It's kind of painful to be criticised for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," she said.
"Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are.""Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are."
BBC correspondent Matthew Price, in Iowa following the Republican campaign, said Mrs Palin - not Mr McCain - was energising the party base despite approval ratings dropping since she was announced as the candidate in September.BBC correspondent Matthew Price, in Iowa following the Republican campaign, said Mrs Palin - not Mr McCain - was energising the party base despite approval ratings dropping since she was announced as the candidate in September.