McCain, Obama prep for debate
WASHINGTON -- Against a background of more aggressive attacks in recent days, John McCain and Barack Obama debate again Tuesday night, with audience members and Internet participants asking the questions.
Tuesday night's debate at Belmont University in Nashville is a town-hall-style format, in which both candidates field questions submitted by audience members and via e-mail. NBC's Tom Brokaw will moderate.
McCain prefers the format, having used town halls effectively during the primary season.
The debate — the second of three scheduled between the two major party presidential nominees — comes as polls show McCain losing ground. Obama is leading McCain or essentially tied with him in key states won by President Bush in 2004, including Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Nevada and North Carolina, according to surveys compiled on RealClearPolitics.com. The most recent Gallup tracking poll gives Obama a 51%-42% lead nationwide.
In recent days, McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, have stepped up attacks on Obama's credibility.
Monday, McCain served notice at an Albuquerque rally that he'll be combative in the debate. As he discussed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, McCain said Obama has accused him of opposing regulation that would have averted the financial crisis.
"I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough, it will be believed," McCain said.
Palin on Monday again sought to link Obama to 1960s radical William Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground group accused of several bombings. Ayers once hosted a 1995 reception for Obama and served with him on two boards. Obama, who was a child at the time of the bombings, has denounced the group's violence and radical views. He has described Ayers as a "guy who lives in my neighborhood" in Chicago.
Obama, taking time out Monday from debate practice in Asheville, N.C., said the candidates should talk about the economy rather than "the usual political shenanigans and smear tactics."
"The American people are losing right now," Obama said.
GOP pollster Steve Lombardo said the window for McCain to challenge Obama's character may be closed. GOP strategist Mark Corallo said the McCain campaign's line of attack on Obama is "about a week too late."
"The economic situation has virtually ended John McCain's presidential aspirations, and no amount of tactical maneuvering in the final 29 days is likely to change that equation," Lombardo wrote to his clients.
Another GOP pollster, Whit Ayres, said the Wall Street crisis "makes Sen. McCain's task more challenging," but noted that it's early to count him out.
Scott Reed, Republican Bob Dole's campaign manager in 1996, said McCain is "swimming into a rip current" and needs to discuss tax cuts to stimulate the economy — while casting Obama as a believer in higher taxes.
Obama has used the town hall format on occasion, but not recently, sticking mostly to highly scripted campaign appearances. His last town hall was Sept. 12.
Contributing: Associated Press