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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| McCain and Obama target key state | McCain and Obama target key state |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The rival candidates for the US presidential election have begun their final week of campaigning with rallies in the key state of Pennsylvania. | The rival candidates for the US presidential election have begun their final week of campaigning with rallies in the key state of Pennsylvania. |
| Republican John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin said they would surprise pundits by winning the state. | Republican John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin said they would surprise pundits by winning the state. |
| Democrat Barack Obama told supporters in the town of Chester that it was "time to come together" as Americans. | Democrat Barack Obama told supporters in the town of Chester that it was "time to come together" as Americans. |
| The latest opinion polls suggest Mr Obama is still ahead but by a slightly smaller margin than last week. | The latest opinion polls suggest Mr Obama is still ahead but by a slightly smaller margin than last week. |
| Meanwhile, Senator McCain has called on his fellow Republican Senator Ted Stevens to resign after being convicted on charges of concealing gifts and home improvements paid for by business associates. | Meanwhile, Senator McCain has called on his fellow Republican Senator Ted Stevens to resign after being convicted on charges of concealing gifts and home improvements paid for by business associates. |
| "This a sign of the corruption and insider-dealing that has become so pervasive in our nation's capital," the McCain campaign said in a statement. "It is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down." | "This a sign of the corruption and insider-dealing that has become so pervasive in our nation's capital," the McCain campaign said in a statement. "It is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down." |
| Stevens, the longest-serving Republican Senator, has been fighting for his political life in the Senate race in Alaska. | Stevens, the longest-serving Republican Senator, has been fighting for his political life in the Senate race in Alaska. |
| Rallies cancelled | Rallies cancelled |
| While Mr McCain and Mrs Palin both appeared in Hershey, a conservative town, two other rallies at Allentown and Quakertown had to be cancelled because of bad weather. | While Mr McCain and Mrs Palin both appeared in Hershey, a conservative town, two other rallies at Allentown and Quakertown had to be cancelled because of bad weather. |
| Mr McCain next visits North Carolina while Mrs Palin will stay for other rallies in Pennsylvania - at Pennsylvania State University and at Shippensburg. Mr Obama will head to Virginia later on Tuesday. | Mr McCain next visits North Carolina while Mrs Palin will stay for other rallies in Pennsylvania - at Pennsylvania State University and at Shippensburg. Mr Obama will head to Virginia later on Tuesday. |
| It's wonderful to fool the pundits, we're going to win in the state of Pennsylvania John McCain John McCain's bluff?US Election polltracker | It's wonderful to fool the pundits, we're going to win in the state of Pennsylvania John McCain John McCain's bluff?US Election polltracker |
| Opinion polls show a healthy lead for Mr Obama in Pennsylvania but Mr McCain sees the industrial state - with its disaffected white working-class voters - as a key target on the road to the White House. | Opinion polls show a healthy lead for Mr Obama in Pennsylvania but Mr McCain sees the industrial state - with its disaffected white working-class voters - as a key target on the road to the White House. |
| Mr McCain repeated his promise to "clean up Washington", saying that his running mate - the governor of Alaska - would "show them what reform is all about, the same way she did in the state of Alaska, my friends". | Mr McCain repeated his promise to "clean up Washington", saying that his running mate - the governor of Alaska - would "show them what reform is all about, the same way she did in the state of Alaska, my friends". |
| And the Republican said professional pollsters were wrong about Mr Obama's lead among the state's voters. | And the Republican said professional pollsters were wrong about Mr Obama's lead among the state's voters. |
| John McCain attacks Barack Obama's economic plans | John McCain attacks Barack Obama's economic plans |
| "It's wonderful to fool the pundits, we're going to win in the state of Pennsylvania," said Mr McCain. | |
| McCain advisors have been suggesting lately that the race for some of the battleground states might be a bit closer than it seems, says the BBC's North America editor Justin Webb, on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania. | McCain advisors have been suggesting lately that the race for some of the battleground states might be a bit closer than it seems, says the BBC's North America editor Justin Webb, on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania. |
| Mrs Palin said Mr Obama had not been candid with voters about his tax plans, saying they would stifle America's "entrepreneurial spirit". | Mrs Palin said Mr Obama had not been candid with voters about his tax plans, saying they would stifle America's "entrepreneurial spirit". |
| She was briefly booed by some in the crowd who appeared to support Mr Obama, but responded quickly. | She was briefly booed by some in the crowd who appeared to support Mr Obama, but responded quickly. |
| "I don't know, when we hear protests like that I'm always tempted to tell security: 'No, let them stay, maybe they can learn a thing or two from all of you.'" | "I don't know, when we hear protests like that I'm always tempted to tell security: 'No, let them stay, maybe they can learn a thing or two from all of you.'" |
| 'Over a cliff' | 'Over a cliff' |
| Meanwhile, in Chester, Pennsylvania, Mr Obama spoke to a crowd of about 9,000 people at an outdoor rally on a cold, rainy morning. John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward a cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas Barack Obama | Meanwhile, in Chester, Pennsylvania, Mr Obama spoke to a crowd of about 9,000 people at an outdoor rally on a cold, rainy morning. John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward a cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas Barack Obama |
| "This is an unbelievable crowd for this kind of weather," he said. | "This is an unbelievable crowd for this kind of weather," he said. |
| "If we see this kind of dedication on election day, there is no way that we're not going to bring change to America." | "If we see this kind of dedication on election day, there is no way that we're not going to bring change to America." |
| He repeated his campaign pledge that taxes would not be raised on Americans who earn under $250,000 and once again asserted that Mr McCain would continue the economic policies of unpopular incumbent George W Bush. | He repeated his campaign pledge that taxes would not be raised on Americans who earn under $250,000 and once again asserted that Mr McCain would continue the economic policies of unpopular incumbent George W Bush. |
| "He's supported four of the five Bush budgets that have taken us from the surpluses of the Clinton years to the largest deficits in history," Mr Obama said of his rival. | "He's supported four of the five Bush budgets that have taken us from the surpluses of the Clinton years to the largest deficits in history," Mr Obama said of his rival. |
| "John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward a cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas." | "John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward a cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas." |
| He closed by saying it was "time to come together" as Americans. | He closed by saying it was "time to come together" as Americans. |
| "I'm asking you to believe... in your ability to bring about change," he said. | "I'm asking you to believe... in your ability to bring about change," he said. |
| Outgunned | Outgunned |
| The choice of visits after Pennsylvania suggests Mr McCain is still fighting to hold traditionally Republican states - while Mr Obama is attempting to swing them to the Democrats. | The choice of visits after Pennsylvania suggests Mr McCain is still fighting to hold traditionally Republican states - while Mr Obama is attempting to swing them to the Democrats. |
| North Carolina has not voted Democrat since 1976, while Virginia has not done so since 1964. Current polls point to a tight race in both states. | North Carolina has not voted Democrat since 1976, while Virginia has not done so since 1964. Current polls point to a tight race in both states. |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says that with seven days to go, the problems for Mr McCain remain pretty much as they have been all along. | The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says that with seven days to go, the problems for Mr McCain remain pretty much as they have been all along. |
| He is the first Republican in many years to find himself outgunned financially and outmuscled on the ground, our correspondent says. | He is the first Republican in many years to find himself outgunned financially and outmuscled on the ground, our correspondent says. |
| As if to hammer home the point, Mr Obama has bought a costly 30-minute "infomercial" due to be shown on leading US networks on Wednesday evening. | As if to hammer home the point, Mr Obama has bought a costly 30-minute "infomercial" due to be shown on leading US networks on Wednesday evening. |