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McCain and Obama target key state McCain and Obama hit key states
(about 1 hour 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 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. While Senator 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.
"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." It was the running mates' first appearance together since reports of infighting within the Republican camp.
Stevens, the longest-serving Republican Senator, has been fighting for his political life in the Senate race in Alaska.
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.
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 polltrackerIt'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
Mr McCain, 72, said: "When two mavericks join up they don't agree on everything but that's a lot of fun."
The Arizona senator then went to North Carolina, a state which has not voted Democrat since 1976, but where Mr McCain and Mr Obama are now neck-and-neck in the polls.
Alaska Governor Palin, 44, stayed in Pennsylvania for other rallies.
Illinois Senator Obama, 47, went on to campaign in Virginia, which has not voted Democrat since 1964, but where the race is also tight.
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". The Republican repeated his promise to "clean up Washington", saying that his running mate would "show them what reform is all about".
And the Republican said professional pollsters were wrong about Mr Obama's lead among the state's voters. 'Wealth spreader'
And Mr McCain said professional pollsters were wrong about Mr Obama's lead in the Rust Belt state.
John McCain attacks Barack Obama's economic plansJohn 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."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 the race in some battleground states may be 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.
She was briefly booed by some in the crowd who appeared to support Mr Obama, but responded quickly. "It doesn't sound like too many of you are supporting Barack the wealth spreader," she said.
"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.'" She was briefly booed by some in the crowd who appeared to support Mr Obama.
'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 who braved cold and rain to attend an outdoor rally.
"This is an unbelievable crowd for this kind of weather," he said. 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
"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. The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says with seven days to go, the problems for Mr McCain remain pretty much as they have been all along.
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.
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.
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.