Elections Today
- Pennsylvania
Recent Projections
| State | Candidate | Delegates |
|---|---|---|
 Donald Trump | ||
Pennsylvania |  Joe Biden |
McCain, Obama set for debate
NASHVILLE -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain was set to challenge the qualifications of Democratic rival Barack Obama during a town hall-style debate Tuesday, while Obama was prepared to question McCain's ability to grapple with the bad economy.
The two presidential nominees prepared for their second face-off on a day that the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled another 508 points, and the resulting financial anxiety loomed large over the debate.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said the GOP nominee planned to discuss his economic and foreign policy plans, but also to "be very aggressive about holding Barack Obama accountable" for policy plans that McCain contends will raise taxes and enlarge the size of government.
Obama, who spent two days in Asheville, N.C. getting ready for tonight's encounter, is arrived at the debate "aware that John McCain could go on the attack in minute one," said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for the Democrat, adding: "We will respond in kind."
The face off presidential hopefuls' meeting here at Belmont University fell during a week when McCain began to sharpen his attacks on Obama, and Republican surrogates associates — most notably, vice presidential nominee candidate Sarah Palin — revived efforts to make an issue of Obama's association with William Ayers, a 1960s radical turned education professor.
Ayers, 67, was a founder of the Weather Underground, a student group that opposed the Vietnam War and was involved in several bombing incidents. Now a professor at on the University of Illinois-Chicago faculty, Ayers helped Obama on several of his state Senate races. The two served together on the board of a Chicago foundation's board that gives grants to civics and arts organizations.
Obama has played down their relationship, referring to Ayers —who lives several blocks away from him on Chicago's South Side — as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood." The Democrat has also denouced the violence and views of Ayers' former group.
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