Character attacks ahead of presidential debate

“It’s gonna get rough.“  That’s what Sarah Palin said Monday about the race for the White House and even her critics have to agree. 

John McCain and Barack Obama, who meet Tuesday in their second debate, are no longer running neck and neck. 

Obama is pulling ahead. 

Republicans are stepping up their attacks. 

And democrats are firing back.

The tone of this race has changed, gotten nastier as the election map has changed, with more states going into Barack Obama’s column.

“I didn’t just show up out of nowhere,“ said McCain.
The day before their second debate, John McCain re-raised old questions about Barack Obama.

“Even at this late hour in the campaign, there are essential things we don’t know about Senator Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign,” said McCain.

McCain was in new Mexico, that’s leaning toward Obama. 

One of ten states now in that category. 

Eight more that went for Bush in ‘04 including Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Colorado are now tossups.

MccCain might have to win all eight to get to the White House.

But as voter registration wraps up Monday in those states Colorado has added 800,000 new voters while republicans have lost 300,000.

McCain is in trouble. 

His plan is to get personal.

“From now until election day, it may get kinda rough,” said republican vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin.
Palin, in Florida Monday, slammed Obama.

“I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America,” said Palin.

On Monday, Obama threw some mud back.

“A member of Senator McCain’s campaign saying today that if we talk about the economic crisis we lose. I have got news for the mccain campaign - the American people are losing right now,” said Obama.

And Obama got personal. 

Unleashing a 13 minute video on McCain’s Keating five banking scandal 20 years ago.

Tuesday, the 3rd debate. 

50% of voters say the democrats did a better job in the first two. 

29% say the republicans did, according to the new NBC poll.
More pressure on John McCain.
And if the last few days are any indication, Tuesday night’s face-off in Nashville could get nasty.