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 create jobs for Americans.
But Democratic rival Barack Obama said tax cuts would be put "into the pockets of 95% of working families".
He said Mr McCain sought to distance himself from failed Bush administration policies he had backed for years.
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%.
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.
We've seen that movie before in other countries. That's not America
John McCain
Mr McCain began his weekend campaigning in New Mexico, a state won by the Republicans in 2004 but which could be key in the 4 November presidential vote.
He 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."
Attempting to distance himself from President George W Bush, Mr McCain said: "We cannot spend the next four years as we have much of the last eight, hoping for our luck to change at home and abroad."
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.
"He [Obama] believes in redistributing wealth. That means taking money from one group of Americans and giving it to another. We've seen that movie before in other countries. That's not America," the Republican senator said.
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.
Do you believe Obama has a sound economic plan? Why or why not?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
McCain in 'hatred' war of words
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has become embroiled in a war of words with racial undertones after clashing with a civil rights icon.
John Lewis accused Mr McCain's campaign of "sowing hatred" against opponent Barack Obama and said he was reminded of 1960s segregationist George Wallace.
Mr McCain, who recently said Mr Lewis was one of his most admired Americans, called the reference "beyond the pale".
Mr McCain has also tried to cool his supporters' resentment of Mr Obama.
In Minnesota on Friday, Mr McCain defended Mr Obama after some at the town hall meeting labelled him a "terrorist", "an Arab", a "traitor" and a candidate who inspired fear.
The Republican's campaign has also suffered from a legislative probe in Alaska that found his vice-presidential running mate and state governor, Sarah Palin, had abused her power.
With just over three weeks to go to the election, she has again denied any wrongdoing in the affair.
Rally boos
Democratic Congressman Lewis is considered one of the key figures of the civil rights movement.
He said: "Senator McCain and Governor Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all."
My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour
John Lewis
Economy may deflect Palin probe
Mr Lewis said the "sowing of seeds of hatred and division" reminded him of Alabama Governor Wallace's rhetoric in 1963 that was blamed for a church bomb attack that killed four young girls.
Mr McCain reacted angrily, calling the reference "shocking and beyond the pale".
"I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character," he said.
Mr Lewis later said his reference was not a direct one, but was simply pointing out that "toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour".
He also welcomed Mr McCain's attempts to cool angry supporters at Republican rallies.
At the Minnesota meeting, Mr McCain said Mr Obama was a decent family man and voters should not be afraid of him, but drew boos for defending him.
The Obama campaign quickly said it did not believe Mr McCain's campaign was in any way comparable to Wallace.
Abortion attack
The McCain campaign has targeted Mr Obama over his alleged links to 1960s militant William Ayers.
Mrs Palin said Mr Obama was "palling around with terrorists".
On Saturday, Mrs Palin defended herself against the findings of the Alaskan investigation.
It found she had abused her power by allowing her husband to put pressure on officials to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.
Asked by a journalist in Pennsylvania if the accusations were correct, she said: "No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it."
The report said Mrs Palin failed to act to stop her husband contacting the officials in the case known as Troopergate.
Mrs Palin on Saturday stepped up her attacks on Mr Obama, calling him a pro-abortion radical.
"He hopes you won't notice how radical, absolutely radical, his ideas on this and his record is until it's too late," she said.
Do you believe McCain and Palin are using hatred to blast Obama or do you believe they are sensable questions to ask about about Obama's views and issues? Why do you believe in your decision?
John Lewis accused Mr McCain's campaign of "sowing hatred" against opponent Barack Obama and said he was reminded of 1960s segregationist George Wallace.
Mr McCain, who recently said Mr Lewis was one of his most admired Americans, called the reference "beyond the pale".
Mr McCain has also tried to cool his supporters' resentment of Mr Obama.
In Minnesota on Friday, Mr McCain defended Mr Obama after some at the town hall meeting labelled him a "terrorist", "an Arab", a "traitor" and a candidate who inspired fear.
The Republican's campaign has also suffered from a legislative probe in Alaska that found his vice-presidential running mate and state governor, Sarah Palin, had abused her power.
With just over three weeks to go to the election, she has again denied any wrongdoing in the affair.
Rally boos
Democratic Congressman Lewis is considered one of the key figures of the civil rights movement.
He said: "Senator McCain and Governor Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all."
My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour
John Lewis
Economy may deflect Palin probe
Mr Lewis said the "sowing of seeds of hatred and division" reminded him of Alabama Governor Wallace's rhetoric in 1963 that was blamed for a church bomb attack that killed four young girls.
Mr McCain reacted angrily, calling the reference "shocking and beyond the pale".
"I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character," he said.
Mr Lewis later said his reference was not a direct one, but was simply pointing out that "toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour".
He also welcomed Mr McCain's attempts to cool angry supporters at Republican rallies.
At the Minnesota meeting, Mr McCain said Mr Obama was a decent family man and voters should not be afraid of him, but drew boos for defending him.
The Obama campaign quickly said it did not believe Mr McCain's campaign was in any way comparable to Wallace.
Abortion attack
The McCain campaign has targeted Mr Obama over his alleged links to 1960s militant William Ayers.
Mrs Palin said Mr Obama was "palling around with terrorists".
On Saturday, Mrs Palin defended herself against the findings of the Alaskan investigation.
It found she had abused her power by allowing her husband to put pressure on officials to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.
Asked by a journalist in Pennsylvania if the accusations were correct, she said: "No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it."
The report said Mrs Palin failed to act to stop her husband contacting the officials in the case known as Troopergate.
Mrs Palin on Saturday stepped up her attacks on Mr Obama, calling him a pro-abortion radical.
"He hopes you won't notice how radical, absolutely radical, his ideas on this and his record is until it's too late," she said.
Do you believe McCain and Palin are using hatred to blast Obama or do you believe they are sensable questions to ask about about Obama's views and issues? Why do you believe in your decision?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
NY mayor in push for third term
The mayor of New York has caused a major political upset by asking for a law preventing him from running for re-election to be overturned.
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is due to stand down from the high-profile job after his second term in office at the end of next year.
But he said the financial crisis on Wall Street and his record as mayor meant he deserved the chance to re-run.
Voters have approved previous moves to limit officials to two terms in office.
Rumours that Mr Bloomberg would reverse his previous support for term limits and try to run again had been swirling around City Hall for weeks.
If the voters don't like what they've seen they will vote for someone else, and that's as it should be
Michael Bloomberg
But in what looks like a co-ordinated effort, the powerful speaker of New York City Council, Christine Quinn, said she would introduce legislation early next week.
Twice during the 1990s, voters voiced their support for limiting city politicians to just eight years in office.
The council has the power to change the rules, and given that many members are approaching the end of their own second four-year terms, it looks likely that the mayor will get his way.
Do you believe Mayor Bloomberg should have the chance to run again? Why or why not? Or do you believe that he is overiding the rules of American democracy?
Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is due to stand down from the high-profile job after his second term in office at the end of next year.
But he said the financial crisis on Wall Street and his record as mayor meant he deserved the chance to re-run.
Voters have approved previous moves to limit officials to two terms in office.
Rumours that Mr Bloomberg would reverse his previous support for term limits and try to run again had been swirling around City Hall for weeks.
If the voters don't like what they've seen they will vote for someone else, and that's as it should be
Michael Bloomberg
But in what looks like a co-ordinated effort, the powerful speaker of New York City Council, Christine Quinn, said she would introduce legislation early next week.
Twice during the 1990s, voters voiced their support for limiting city politicians to just eight years in office.
The council has the power to change the rules, and given that many members are approaching the end of their own second four-year terms, it looks likely that the mayor will get his way.
Do you believe Mayor Bloomberg should have the chance to run again? Why or why not? Or do you believe that he is overiding the rules of American democracy?
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