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McCain questions Obama's readiness for the White House
Republican John McCain questioned Democratic rival Barack Obama's readiness for the White House and Obama issued a prime-time television appeal on Wednesday calling the election "a defining moment" as a bruising presidential campaign hit the final stretch.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:06 October 30, 2008
Tampa: Republican John McCain questioned Democratic rival Barack Obama's readiness for the White House and Obama issued a prime-time television appeal on Wednesday calling the election "a defining moment" as a bruising presidential campaign hit the final stretch.
McCain kicked off a tour of the must-win state of Florida by warning Obama would be bad news for small businesses and workers, and by casting doubt on the Illinois senator's judgment and ability to handle a security crisis.
"The question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and other grave threats in the world," McCain said after meeting with national security advisers in Tampa six days before Tuesday's election.
"And he has given you no reason to answer in the affirmative," he said.
"Senator Obama is running to spread the wealth. I'm running to create more wealth. Senator Obama is running to punish the successful. I'm running to make everyone successful," McCain told a Miami rally.
Obama, who would raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 and cut taxes for lower- and middle-income workers, said McCain's economic policies would be bad news for the middle class and would mean more of the Republican approach followed by President George W. Bush.
McCain is struggling to overtake Obama's lead in national polls and to defend about a dozen key battleground states won by Bush in 2004, with Florida and its 27 electoral votes leading the list.
But the key for both candidates is winning the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the White House, and Florida is a big piece of the puzzle.
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