McCain Plays Defense With Red-State Stops

GOP battles Dems' big advantage in polls, registration

(NEWSER) - John McCain is going full throttle in Pennsylvania, but his work is cut out for him: He’s behind 12-15 points in state polls, and Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the state, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. McCain, wife Cindy, and Sarah Palin have stumped heavily there all week. “We will win Pennsylvania,” said a rep. “We wouldn't be here unless we were 100% confident of that." More»

But with 29 days to go, neither candidate is exactly galloping to the finish line

(NEWSER) - There are 29 scant days until Nov. 4, but you might not know there was a tight race for the White House given the leisurely schedules both candidates have been keeping—especially John McCain, reports Politico. McCain and Barack Obama have each been averaging barely more than one campaign event per day since the Republican convention ended, and McCain has taken at least a day off each weekend. More»

15,000 attend 1 am rally in Miami

(NEWSER) - John McCain spent yesterday on a whirlwind tour, hitting seven states with eight rallies as he looked to make a last-minute comeback, the Washington Post reports. “I am an American, and I choose to fight,” he told crowds from Florida to Arizona, starting with a 1am rally in Miami that brought out 15,000 people. “He knows he's coming from behind. He's fighting to the end,” said an aide. More»

The '08 version redrew the political map and ruptured the financing system, and more

(NEWSER) - We can't be sure what kind of change the next president will bring, but we do know that presidential campaigns themselves will never be the same, writes Gerald F. Seib in the Wall Street Journal. Among this year’s innovations:

• The campaigns have redrawn the political map, making previously locked states competitive, like Virginia, and placing increasing emphasis on the Mountain West.

Obama leads, but both teams are playing hardball

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has led in the last 11 Ohio polls, but the battle for the all-important state is intensifying as Republicans make a last-minute get-out-the-vote sweep. Early voting has leaned Obama’s way, but Republicans—who don't see a clear path to the White House without victory here—say that means little. Salon and the Wall Street Journal look at the battle for Ohio. More»