Final Pitch: Candidates Make Their Cases

Nov. 3, 2008— -- On the eve of the presidential election, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama today embarked on a final campaign push through a combined 13 states to get their supporters to the polls.

According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post daily poll, Obama leads McCain 54-43 among likely voters, but the McCain camp says that its internal numbers show the polls tightening in critical battleground states and McCain is poised for a comeback.

As the candidates make their closing statements to the nation, Obama and McCain told ABC News' Charles Gibson, for one last time, why they should be elected.

McCain's Closing Argument: 'No on-the-Job' Training'

"Six words: Duty, honor and country; reform, prosperity and peace," McCain told Gibson in an interview Friday. "I've spent my whole life serving my country as an advocate of reform, and honesty and integrity in government. And I will continue that battle. That means reforming the way we do business in Washington, restoring trust and confidence."

The GOP candidate differentiated himself from his opponent in terms of his "economic outlook" and said he would work to ensure prosperity for all Americans.

"We will bring this country out of the ditch by creating millions and millions of jobs through alternative energy, through keeping spending down, and keeping taxes low," he said.

McCain also stressed his experience on the international stage, working with foreign leaders and serving the United States in the military and in war.

"I know our enemies, and I know our friends," he said. "I know how to deal with them. We're in two wars. And I've served my country all my life. And I know who our friends are, and I know who our enemies are. And I know how to secure the peace and bring our troops home with victory and with honor.

"I need no on-the-job training," McCain said. "I'm ready to continue what I've done all my life: Put my country first and serve a cause greater than my self-interest and inspire a generation of Americans to do the same."