Obama, McCain push for Pa. votes

PITTSBURGH - Democrat Barack Obama, making his closing argument to the American people, returned yesterday to the soaring rhetoric of his campaign's early days, calling for a new politics free of partisan divisions and promising to "change the world."

Republican John McCain, beginning his own final sprint, said that his proposal for individual and corporate tax cuts would spur investment that creates jobs. "Barack the Redistributor," he said, would raise taxes and increase government spending, stifling growth.

With just a week left in the presidential campaign, both candidates stormed into Pennsylvania after beginning the day in Ohio, where President Bush clinched his reelection four years ago.

Recent polls show Obama leading by double digits in the fight for Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes. Carried by Democrats in every presidential election since 1988, it is the only blue state where McCain is making a push as the two battle over a handful of red states trending toward Obama in polls, including Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina and Florida.

McCain rallied 5,000 supporters in Pottsville, in the heart of the state's GOP territory, while Obama spoke to about 15,000 at Mellon Arena, fondly called the "Igloo" by fans of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, who play there.

"In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo," Obama said at the Pittsburgh rally, echoing remarks he had made earlier in the day in Canton, Ohio. "We can come together as one nation and one people, and once more choose our better history."

McCain's closing argument focused on the economy, as he chastised Obama for plans that the Arizona senator said would increase spending and taxes. McCain promised to slash spending, calling that commitment a difference between himself and Bush on the economy.

"I am going to make government live on a budget just like you do," McCain told the crowd, some of whom had waited for hours to get inside the Pottsville School District's Martz Hall gymnasium.

"This is the fundamental difference between Sen. Obama and me," McCain said. "We both disagreed with President Bush on economic policies. The difference is, he thinks taxes have been too low and I think spending has been too high."

Obama repeated his promise to cut taxes for 95 percent of American taxpayers, all those making less than $250,000 a year. McCain, who has argued that that approach would ensnare small businesses, continued his recent argument that Obama's approach is socialist.

He told the raucous crowd that Obama was "running to be Redistributor in Chief" and drew loud cheers when he advocated clean-coal technology as part of the solution to the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Pottsville is in Schuylkill County, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia; it voted for Bush in the last two elections. Its working-class roots were planted long ago in its anthracite coal-mining tradition. Registered Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats.

Obama is scheduled to hold an outdoor rally this morning at Widener University in Chester. McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, plan to appear this morning at the Giant Center, an arena in Hershey, and this afternoon in Quakertown, continuing their intense personal attention to Pennsylvania in the last two weeks.

Obama, in his Pittsburgh speech, mentioned change 19 times and hope nine times as he sought to rise above partisan rancor. He spoke of soldiers of differing political persuasions having "fought together and bled together - and some died together - under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America - they have served the United States of America."

Though he spoke of toning down politics, Obama did not spare McCain criticism. The Illinois senator sought to turn on its head the GOP argument that he is too untested.

"The biggest gamble, the biggest risk, we can take is embracing the same old Bush-McCain policies that have failed us for the last eight years," Obama said. "When it comes to the economy - when it comes to the central issue of this election, the central issue for working families all across this region - he don't get it. The plain truth is that John McCain has stood with George Bush every step of the way."

The crowd at McCain's event was upbeat despite polls that show Obama with a commanding lead in Pennsylvania.

"There are so many polls right now, you don't know what to believe," said Rachel Snukis, 41, a substitute teacher in Pottsville who has lived in the county her entire life. "It's got to be closer than what we are expected to believe."

Snukis said she was supporting McCain because of his stand on abortion rights and his experience, including his military background.

"I just feel safer with him," she said.

Obama, after his rally, visited the Pittsburgh South Side campaign office, where he encouraged volunteers who were calling potential supporters. He picked up the phone several times to greet voters on the other end of the line.

"I'm Barack Obama," he told one. "I'd love to have your vote. . . . God bless you. We've just got to make sure that we get all your family members out to vote, especially those that don't normally vote."

There was a pause. "You want tickets to the inaugural?" Obama said. "You drive a hard bargain."