Obama marches ahead of McCain as campaign climaxes

Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Nov 3 (PTI) Barack Obama, who stands on the threshold of history, is taking no chance in the critical State of Ohio where some polls have shown him in a narrow lead over his rival Republican John McCain as the campaign 2008 formally reaches its climax Monday.

Some political analysts are making the point that while
the Illinois Democrat may be sitting pretty at an endorsement
of more than 50 percent of likely voters, the campaign cannot
but be concerned at the tightening of the polls at the very
last minute.

According to Chuck Todd, analyst with NBC News, Obama has
a narrow 47 percent to 44 percent lead in Virginia; in Florida
the lead has been consistent but small-- 47 to 45; Obama has
posted a five point lead in Colorado; but in Ohio the tracking
polls are showing McCain in a point advantage, 47 percent to
45 percent, over Obama.

Ohio is critical for McCain as no Republican has won the
Presidency without winning Ohio.

Obama took to the stage in Cleveland in Ohio Sunday
evening and addressed his supporters.

Todd, on NBC's Meet The Press Programme Sunday, did not
fail to mention of Obama's lead in the State of Nevada; a
dead-heat in Missouri; and a small edge for Senator McCain in
North Carolina.

"All of these polls, of course could change depending on
what is the percentage of turnout among young voters, among
African-Americans, among older voters, et cetera" Todd said.

But pollsters and pundits are not swaying Obama as he
lashed out at the McCain track record especially on the
Arizona Senator's links with the Bush White House.

"President Bush is sitting out the last few days before
the election. But yesterday, Dick Cheney came out of his
undisclosed location and hit the campaign trail. He said that
he is, and I quote, 'delighted to support John McCain'," Obama
said in an obvious dig.

"I'd like to congratulate Senator McCain on this
endorsement because he really earned it. That endorsement
didn't come easy. Senator McCain had to vote 90 percent of the
time with George Bush and Dick Cheney to get it. He served as
Washington's biggest cheerleader for going to war in Iraq, and
supports economic policies that are no different from the last
eight years," the Illinois Democrat added.

"Ohio, we know better. After all, it was just a week ago
that Senator McCain said that he and President Bush share a
"common philosophy." And we know that when it comes to foreign
policy, John McCain and Dick Cheney share a common philosophy
that thinks that empty bluster from Washington will fix all of
our problems, and a war without end in Iraq is the way to
defeat Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorists who are in
Afghanistan and Pakistan," Obama said.

"...We've tried it John McCain's way. We've tried it
George Bush and Dick Cheney's way. Deep down, McCain knows
that, which is why his campaign said that 'if we keep talking
about the economy, we're going to lose.' That's why I'm
talking about the economy. That's why he's spent these last
weeks calling me every name in the book. Because that's how
you play the game in Washington. When you can't win on the
strength of your ideas, you make a big election about small
things" Senator Obama said in Colombus.

"... In two days, you can put an end to the politics
that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries
to pit region against region, city against town, Republican
against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need
hope.In two days, at this defining moment in history, you can
give this country the change we need," he added. PTI SK