JOHN McCain has claimed that Barack Obama's economic policies would push the United States deeper into recession, put more firms out of business and lead to widespread job losses, writes Denis Stauntonin Washington
Campaigning in Ohio with his running mate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Mr McCain said that last Friday's presidential debate highlighted stark differences between how the candidates would manage the economy.
"A vote for me will guarantee immediate pro-growth action: tax cuts for America's hard-working families, strong support for small businesses which are the backbone of our economy, and an end to pork-barrel spending in Washington," he said.
"A vote for Barrack Obama will guarantee higher taxes, fewer jobs and an even bigger federal government. These policies will deepen our recession . . . A vote for Barack Obama will leave this country at risk during one of the most severe challenges to America's economy since the Great Depression."
Friday's debate at the University of Mississippi has given Mr Obama a small boost, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll. When asked which candidate offered the best proposals to solve the country's problems, 52 per cent chose Mr Obama, compared to 35 per cent for Mr McCain.
Four national polls this week give the Democrat a lead of between five and eight points and polls in battleground states also show a boost for Mr Obama. Florida, North Carolina and Indiana, which had been leaning towards Mr McCain, now appear to be toss-up states and Mr Obama has taken a clear lead in Colorado, where he was campaigning yesterday.
Ms Palin yesterday sought to lower expectations ahead of her debate with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden next Thursday, saying her opponent is a "great debater and looks pretty doggone confident, like he's gonna win".
Ms Palin was due to leave the campaign trail last night to spend a few days at Mr McCain's ranch in Arizona, where two of his top aides, Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt, will prepare her for the debate.
Mock debates run by the campaign in New York and Philadelphia last week are understood to have gone badly for Ms Palin, who has become a favourite target for late-night comics following unconvincing performances in a number of television interviews.
Some of Mr McCain's aides believe that Ms Palin may have been over-prepared for her interviews and encouraged to rely on stock answers rather than projecting her own personality.
Some Democrats fear that Mr Biden could come across as bullying or condescending during Thursday's debate and he has received advice from leading Democratic women, including Hillary Clinton and California senator Diane Feinstein, on how to avoid giving such an impression.
Both Mr McCain and Mr Obama are expected to return to Washington this week to vote on the proposed financial bailout plan if it is revived following yesterday's rejection on Capitol Hill.
Mr McCain yesterday defended his decision to suspend his campaign last week to take part in negotiations on the deal, accusing Mr Obama of standing on the sidelines at a moment of crisis.
"Some people have criticised my decision, but I will never, ever be a president who sits on the sidelines when this country faces a crisis. Some of you may have noticed, but it's not my style to simply 'phone it in'," he said.
"I've never been afraid of stepping in to solve problems for the American people, and I'm not going to stop now.
"Senator Obama took a very different approach to the crisis our country faced. At first he didn't want to get involved. Then he was 'monitoring the situation'. That's not leadership, that's watching from the sidelines."