McCain doing fine, closes gap with Obama
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Republican John McCain has said his campaign to become US president is "doing fine" despite polls showing him trailing his Democratic rival.
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press nine days before the election, Mr McCain said he had closed the gap with Barack Obama in the past week.
Later at a rally he emphasised that he was ready to fight to win the vote.
Urging change, Mr Obama said McCain and President George W Bush were similar.
Mr McCain was campaigning in Iowa and Ohio Sunday, while Mr Obama was in Colorado.
An NBC poll for Iowa gave Mr Obama 51% voter support, with Mr McCain at 40%.
However, a Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll released on Sunday suggested a closer race overall, with Mr Obama only five percentage points ahead of Mr McCain's 44%.
"Those polls have consistently shown me much farther behind than we actually are," he said. "We're doing fine."
He continued: "We've closed in the last week and if we continue this close in the next week you're going to be up very late on election night."
He added: "We're very competitive here, and I'm very happy with where we are and I'm very proud of the campaign we're running."
With reports of infighting in the Republican camp, Mr McCain was asked if he wanted to defend his vice-presidential running mate Sarah Palin.
He also said the Alaskan governor had "more executive experience than Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden and Senator Obama together."
He went on: "She is a dynamic person with executive experience, leadership, reform. She's exactly what Washington needs.
The party has had to respond to revelations last week that $150,000 has been spent on Mrs Palin's wardrobe since her September appointment.
"She lives a frugal life, she and her family are not wealthy, she and her family were thrust into this," Mr McCain said, repeating that the clothes will be donated to charity.
Responding to the Obama team's emphasis that he voted with President Bush 90% of the time, Mr McCain said both he and Mrs Palin were mavericks.
Barack Obama warned people to 'tighten their belts'"Do we share a common philosophy of the Republican Party? Of course.
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press nine days before the election, Mr McCain said he had closed the gap with Barack Obama in the past week.
Later at a rally he emphasised that he was ready to fight to win the vote.
Urging change, Mr Obama said McCain and President George W Bush were similar.
Mr McCain was campaigning in Iowa and Ohio Sunday, while Mr Obama was in Colorado.
An NBC poll for Iowa gave Mr Obama 51% voter support, with Mr McCain at 40%.
However, a Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll released on Sunday suggested a closer race overall, with Mr Obama only five percentage points ahead of Mr McCain's 44%.
"Those polls have consistently shown me much farther behind than we actually are," he said. "We're doing fine."
He continued: "We've closed in the last week and if we continue this close in the next week you're going to be up very late on election night."
He added: "We're very competitive here, and I'm very happy with where we are and I'm very proud of the campaign we're running."
With reports of infighting in the Republican camp, Mr McCain was asked if he wanted to defend his vice-presidential running mate Sarah Palin.
He also said the Alaskan governor had "more executive experience than Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden and Senator Obama together."
He went on: "She is a dynamic person with executive experience, leadership, reform. She's exactly what Washington needs.
The party has had to respond to revelations last week that $150,000 has been spent on Mrs Palin's wardrobe since her September appointment.
"She lives a frugal life, she and her family are not wealthy, she and her family were thrust into this," Mr McCain said, repeating that the clothes will be donated to charity.
Responding to the Obama team's emphasis that he voted with President Bush 90% of the time, Mr McCain said both he and Mrs Palin were mavericks.
Barack Obama warned people to 'tighten their belts'"Do we share a common philosophy of the Republican Party? Of course.