Spring Break
Obama goes prime-time; McCain goes after Obama
AP
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: News
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plunked down $4 million for a campaign-closing television ad Wednesday night, summoning voters to "choose hope over fear and unity over division" in Tuesday's election. Republican John McCain derided the event as a "gauzy, feel-good commercial," paid for with broken promises.
"America, the time for change has come," Obama said in the final moments of the unusual ad, a blend of videotaped moments and a live appearance before thousands in Sunrise, Fla.
"In six days we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates jobs and fuels prosperity starting with the middle class," Obama said.
The 30-minute ad, aired on CBS, NBC, Fox and several cable networks, came just days from the end of a race in which Obama holds the lead in polls nationally as well as in most key battleground states as he bids to become the first black president.
And while it is unusual for candidates to acknowledge the possibility of defeat, Republican running mate Sarah Palin said she intended to remain a national figure even if the ticket loses next week. "I'm not doin' this for naught," she told ABC News in an interview.
Republicans and even some Democrats said the race was tightening as it neared the end. And while Obama made no mention of McCain in his paid television ad, both men sharpened their rhetoric during the day.
McCain, in Florida, argued that Obama lacks "what it takes to protect America from terrorists" as he sought to shift attention away from the economy.
"The question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and the other great threats in the world," he said of Obama. "He has given no reason to answer in the affirmative."
Obama, in North Carolina, said if, "Senator McCain is elected, 100 million Americans will not get a tax cut ... your health care benefits will get taxed for the first time in history ... we'll have another president who wants to privatize part of your Social Security."
"America, the time for change has come," Obama said in the final moments of the unusual ad, a blend of videotaped moments and a live appearance before thousands in Sunrise, Fla.
"In six days we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates jobs and fuels prosperity starting with the middle class," Obama said.
The 30-minute ad, aired on CBS, NBC, Fox and several cable networks, came just days from the end of a race in which Obama holds the lead in polls nationally as well as in most key battleground states as he bids to become the first black president.
And while it is unusual for candidates to acknowledge the possibility of defeat, Republican running mate Sarah Palin said she intended to remain a national figure even if the ticket loses next week. "I'm not doin' this for naught," she told ABC News in an interview.
Republicans and even some Democrats said the race was tightening as it neared the end. And while Obama made no mention of McCain in his paid television ad, both men sharpened their rhetoric during the day.
McCain, in Florida, argued that Obama lacks "what it takes to protect America from terrorists" as he sought to shift attention away from the economy.
"The question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and the other great threats in the world," he said of Obama. "He has given no reason to answer in the affirmative."
Obama, in North Carolina, said if, "Senator McCain is elected, 100 million Americans will not get a tax cut ... your health care benefits will get taxed for the first time in history ... we'll have another president who wants to privatize part of your Social Security."
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