Watch video of Palin
attack on Obama
FACED with the threat of a decisive victory for Barack Obama, the Democratic
presidential candidate, his Republican rival John McCain is preparing to
take the gloves off and “get tough” in the closing weeks of an increasingly
aggressive election campaign.
The McCain camp has already launched a series of negative advertisements
attacking Obama’s character and associates. They are being shown in
battleground states that are tilting towards the Democratic senator.
In an unusual move at this late stage, McCain is spending the weekend at home
in Arizona reassessing tactics and preparing for his second head-to-head
debate with Obama on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee. The audience rather
than a moderator will ask the questions. “McCain is fantastic at town
halls,” a McCain aide claimed. “We normally go through an
expectations-lowering game before debates, but he excels at this format.”
The McCain campaign is acutely aware that it is running out of “game-changing”
scenarios, while Obama has strengthened his hand in at least eight
battleground states, including the former Republican strongholds of Indiana,
Virginia and North Carolina.
There are differences of opinion within the campaign about how aggressive
McCain should be. The Arizona senator, 72, already has a reputation for
irascibility. However, a supporter asked him last week when he would get
tough with his opponent. “How about Tuesday night?” he responded.
If Obama emerges the winner of the television debate, McCain’s strategy will
harden. Campaign officials are closely monitoring Obama’s long-term Chicago
donor, Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the Syrian-born slum landlord and
influence-peddler who is due to be sentenced on October 28, a week before
polling day. He faces up to 20 years in prison for fraud, attempted bribery
and money-laundering.
Rezko helped Obama to buy his $1.6m Chicago home in 2005 by purchasing an area
of garden next door. He has been discreetly visiting Chicago’s courthouse
recently, prompting speculation that he has begun dishing the dirt about
political corruption in the “windy city” in return for a more lenient
sentence.
“There is no doubt that Rezko is a legitimate election issue,” said a McCain
aide. “They have a 20-year relationship together. There are rumours that
Rezko has cut a deal with prosecutors.”
The official noted that the FBI last week raided the Chicago home of Larry
Walsh, a poker-playing friend and former colleague of Obama in the Illinois
state senate, linking the Democrat further to alleged corruption in his home
town.
The danger is that Rezko may be co-operating so much that federal prosecutors
ask for a delay in sentencing beyond November 4, the worst possible outcome
for McCain at a time when Obama, 47, holds a commanding lead of nearly six
points in the polls. He has begun to strike the previously elusive 50% mark
after the Wall Street crisis torpedoed the credibility of McCain and the
Republicans on economic policy.
An Obama adviser confidently predicted that the Democrat would win the
election by 10 points. “McCain is totally collapsing in the battleground
states. The economic crisis has changed the playing field,” he said. He
added that McCain had barely passed 45% throughout the election campaign and
thought it was likely to be his final tally on November 4.
Obama’s huge volunteer army has signed up many more new voters in key states
than McCain’s hand-to-mouth organisation. The Illinois senator yesterday
dispatched Bruce Springsteen, the rock star, and Jay-Z, the rapper, to
concerts in Michigan and Philadelphia in an attempt to register thousands
more before the deadline expires tomorrow.
Some McCain advisers believe it is better for outside groups to hit back with
personal attacks on other “friends” of Obama, such as his pastor, the Rev
Jeremiah Wright. But Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate, went straight for
the jugular yesterday with an attack on Obama for “palling around with
terrorists”, a reference to his links to Bill Ayers, one of the founders of
the Weather Underground which took responsibility for explosions at the
Pentagon and Capitol during the Vietnam war.
The New York Times yesterday chronicled Obama’s relationship with Ayers and
concluded that the Democrat had “played down his contacts” with him, even if
the two did not “appear to have been close”. In 1995 Obama chaired the
Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a left-wing project to raise school performance
co-founded by Ayers, which distributed $50m funds to little effect. Obama
later served on the board of the Woods Fund, an anti-poverty charity, with
Ayers.
Independent groups are stepping up their attacks. The conservative Judicial
Confirmation Network has started to run a $1m advertising campaign in
bellwether states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, linking Obama to Rezko,
Wright and Ayers — “a man who helped to bomb the Pentagon and said he didn’t
do enough”.
Freedom’s Defense Fund, another independent group, has been running
advertisements in Michigan which begin, “Meet Tony Rezko. One of Obama’s top
donors”. They go on to list Rezko’s convictions before concluding, “You
should know who Obama’s friends are”.
Grover Norquist, the influential conservative tax lobbyist, said there were
more well funded attack advertisements on the way. “Obama comes from the
most corrupt political machine in the United States,” Norquist said. “The
McCain campaign should be saying, ‘Let’s take the guy’s head off. He is a
crook’.”
Norquist believes McCain will eventually side with those advocating more
negative attacks. “At the end of the day he’ll say, ‘Guys, I want to be
president. One thing I believe about John McCain is that he really, really,
really wants to be president.”
The resurrection of Palin, 44, in her first and only vice-presidential debate
with Joe Biden, her Democratic opponent, has lifted spirits inside the
McCain campaign. Advice to “let Palin be Palin” has worked, they believe.
Insiders say she is no longer as “tightly wound” as she was when conducting
disastrous television interviews with Katie Couric, the CBS newscaster.
Three viewers’ polls from Fox News, CBS and CNN claimed that the veteran Biden
had won the debate. But the McCain camp believes that Palin’s sunny, folksy
persona shone through and that they have a chance to turn perceptions around
after a record-breaking 70m viewers tuned in.
The spiked-heeled, moose-hunting mother of five is now back in blistering
vice-presidential attack mode. In an interview on Fox News she accused Obama
of being unfit for the job of commander-in-chief.
“Some of his comments about Afghanistan and what we are doing there supposedly
— just air raiding villages and killing civilians. That’s reckless,” Palin
said.
The question is whether the re-emergence of Palin can alter the dynamics of
the race. In Virginia, where the Republicans traditionally do well, McCain
is trailing Obama by an average of two points in the polls.
Watching the vice-presidential debate in a bar in Manassas, a blue-collar
town, voters said they liked Palin’s style — “she’s got guts”, one said —
but thought her performance was largely irrelevant to the fate of the
ticket.
Darlene Davis, 49, a bookkeeper for local schools, who is supporting McCain,
said: “I liked her better at first. I’m a little on the fence now. I’m
worried about her lack of experience. Can she handle the job?”
The picture was the same in North Carolina, a former safe Republican state
where Obama went into the lead by half a point last week. Kay Hart, 35, a
stay-at-home mother from Asheville, said: “I voted for President Bush but
that is almost embarrassing now. The bail-out is the end. I can’t understand
how we got to this point . . . I like Sarah Palin, she’s fun, but I worry
that it would all end up more of the same.”
The McCain campaign last week drained staff and resources from Michigan —
which had been one of their top Democratic targets — to shore up a faltering
operation in former Republican bastions such as Indiana, where McCain is
leading Obama by only 47%-45%.
Murray Clark, chairman of the Indiana Republican party, said that Obama’s
“troubling relationships” should be thoroughly aired: “They do have an
impact on mainstream voters. You call it going negative . . . but I think
it’s helpful.”
McCain should go for the jugular in debate, according to David Freddoso,
author of The Case Against Obama: “When Obama talks about lack of oversight
of Wall Street, McCain should say, ‘What about Tony Rezko? You helped him to
make millions and let his houses degenerate into slums’.”
Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the British ambassador to Washington, provided fresh
ammunition by describing Obama as “decidedly liberal” and “maybe aloof,
insensitive” in a private report to Downing Street.
It would be more useful, however, a McCain source observed dryly, if Americans
actually cared what the British ambassador thought.
Additional reporting: Holly Watt
The trouble with McCain and Palin is that they know now that Obama will be the next President of the USA, so they have stooped to the dirtiest tactics they are capable of, to shoot Obama down....well, I have good news for u guys...cheats never prosper, see u later Alligators, bye-bye.
M. Edward, Kaikohe, New zealand
Republicans are entitled to do what works for them.Hopefully the American public will give their verdict based on their recent experience with this kind of campaigning. When the so-called bomber was engaged in his despicable acts Obama was under TEN years and he get blamed for it. Fair?
Ezekiel Malepa, Gaborone, Botswana
The sad thing is that tactics like this will work as the "average American voter" has a brain the size of a walnut. The Republicans specialise in negative campaigning as Bush showed when he stole the first election from Gore. Expect to see much more vicious attacks than this from Palin.
John, Oslo, Norway
Palin's ignorance is not only deeply embarrassing, but in the context of politics at this level is offensive. America's universities are full of intellectually and politically engaged people, and millions of others are interested in progressive ideas and political philosophy. This woman is wretched.
R. Burdon, Nottingham,
Once again, when you realize you're outmatched by Obama in a very real issue like the economic crisis, you change the subject (much like Palin) by talking about Obama and his associates, as if Obama and Rezko are one and the same. Ironically to distract people from McCain and Bush's alikeness.
Rick, The Falls, WI, US
How fun this is to watch from the outside.... fight fight fight!
Howard, Manchester,
I guess all the commentors forgot that both thé Washington Post and New York Times printed the article that Palin quoted from about Obama lying about the association. Therefore if you say she is lying then you are saying these two papers who support Obama are also lying. Thanks!!!!
Gene, Gebüg, Germany
Palin and McCain belong to the political party that sold arms to Bin Laden a few decades ago. Yet she thinks Obama supporting/helping the same CHARITY as an activist makes him a terrorist!
Whilst I don't believe for a second that Obama is perfect, God help us if McCain and Palin are elected.
Matt, Leamington, England
Holly, why take things out of context? The very next article details:
The Times has learnt that last summer Sir Nigel cancelled a meeting with Sarah Palin - before she was picked as vice-presidential nominee - on the ground that talking to the Governor of Alaska would be a “complete waste of my time
Edward Lawton, New York, US
For the Mcain/Palin/Bush team to bring out the pit bulls is too late. I am an African American, but I lived in Europe for 25 years, and went to art school in London. The Europeans see through this last effort by the republicans who view Europe as just as foreign as Obama.
Jerry Harris, Chico, California, United States
Gov. Palin could not even follow the simple rules of the debate. Answer the questions. How can we trust her to follow the rules of the Constitution?
Steve, lyme, usa
Palin could turn out to be a prettier, slightly better spoken, George Bush, hopefully she will not get that far. Eight years of Bush and his backroom boys in charge has to be enough; the US, and the rest of the world, needs a change not more of the same.
greg, Toronto, Canada
Bob Henderson I salute you for your quoting of a supremely apt saying in this matter.
Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan
desparate obama realizes the only way he can steal this election is to cover up his odious associations
kath morgan, mundelein, USA
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders. All you have to do is tell them that they are in danger of being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
HERMANN GOERING
Bob Henderson, Evergreen, USA
I thought any old idiot would be smarter than bush - boy has this election campaign proved me wrong!!
Stefan
Stefan Hultberg, Roskilde, Denmark
Palin has sunk pretty low by using smear tactics- probably she has sunk to her natural low level- do Americans like that sort of thing? - we just find it distasteful. she should be ashamed of herself.
peter c, Devizes, Wessex
Has to be Obama's secret weapon this girl. What a mouth!
kevin , Cape Town, SA
The anger and hatred for Sarah Palin is palpable in these comments. It seems somewhat irrational. Yes, the truth about Obama should have come out earlier in the mainstream media that is biased in favor of the lefter-leaning candidates in this election.
Kristine, San Bruno, USA
The whole economic crisis has at its center the corruption of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, caused by Senator Dodd, Congressman Frank and Schumer, and Obama. The dems specialize at blaming Republicans loudly for their own mistakes. They are not objective enough to be self-critical.
Kristine, San Bruno, USA
The audacity of Pumpkin Spice ranting about "palling with terrorists" is risible. I can imagine her answer, if asked to describe the Weathermen ... Duh! "What has the Weather Channel got do with this?" She is an insult to Joe Six-Pack
adrian, annapolis, USA
if i saw depression in McCain's eyes,i would be unhappy after obama became a president.so let macain succeed,please!
jiandan, beijing, china
McCain/Palin are hoping dimwits will fall for this trick. The thing is, those who have a bit more brains will defect to Obama in disgust.
M. R., Stockport, UK
it is not an accusation...but an observation!!!!
Andy, Sacramento, USA
Palin showed herself ignorant and inexperienced, now she has shown herself infantile, with childish name-calling. And worst of all, with material obviously fed to her, I will bet my life that woman did not verify any of this herself. Shame on John McCain - you are letting your country down.
S.C. Huldig, London,
Once again the bile of lies and half truths. Is that the only thing the Rep. party has to say? Diffamation of character might go a long way with ignorant people but it's time to show the world we've had enough of those tactics. Mc Cain's lost it and Palin thinks she's still in highschool. wink, wink
Edward, Lafayette, CA.,
If the story of how Obama helped two slumlords, both of whom are now convicted felons, and how they helped him had not been ignored by almost all the media on the U.S. east coast, Obama would not even be a candidate now.
Dennis Duggan, Nashville, TN, USA
Obama's influences are a valid concern for voters.
If someone were running for your Prime Minister who had
been very tight with IRA members involved in bombings
you would have a right to be worried too. <
JanNelson, MplsMN, USA
At lease McCain doesn't pander to special interests. Apart from the gambling industry, that is!
He should spend time teaching Palin about which newspapers to read!
Bill, London,
This just shows that the Great USA (and I've been there enough times to experience it at first hand) reeks of fanatical racism ! The Rednecks and Housewife-America may lose the little credibility that the (rest of) The World have left on the USA.
Hugh, Buckfastleigh, England
"McCain/Palin know voters are stupid"
This has worked for the Republicans before and will probably work again!
Never underestimate the stupidity of people!
John, London,
Sarah Palin is "fit", this is why she is so popular, politics has nothing to do with it.
Rob, Brum, UK
Infact McCain and Palin has a problem, because none of the two of them can convince the American people, let alone the international comunity. The two of them are two amateurs trying to deceive the entire world with their poor economical policies, which is the same as Bush & Cheney Catastrophe.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
Why hasn't this article depicted how Obama and Ayers served on boards together, or how Obama was an ACORN member? It's all about character. Mr. Ayers is a radical and terrorist. Have people forgotten, or just do not care. Obama will probably win. His win will be a victory for Europe not America
Reed, Phoenix, USA
The fact is, that Obama was 5 and living in Hawaii when Ayers was a radical. Obama's and Ayer's only relationship was in serving on the same board. Period.
Cottonwood, Denver, US
no one can make the econmy beter unless they are completely financially literate, thats where the government are going wong..
corrrect me if my opinion is wrong..
mohammed, derby, U.K
So, the British ambassador's critisizism of incoming President Obama should be acknowledged?
How about the opinion of the British Prime Minister!? Gordon Brown was repremanded for 'ENDORSING' BARACK OBAMA!!! Who's opinion is more valid? An embassy official? Or Britain's PRIME MINISTER?
marquessa, London, UK
What a tragedy it will be! Republicans want to take democracy to the MidEast.
This type of gutter politics will be an insult to the very principles of democracy.
Mahi, London, u.k.
obama will be the american version of clement attlee. he will socialise america. if you let him get away with it, you will just end up being the most populous european country.
vote mccain or america will end up being caught by china incredibly quickly.
will, grimsby, uk
Who has been president of the United States of America for the last 8 years? if G W Bush was the leader that lead America into to the grave yard of economical History, why blame Obama? the only person who had anything to do with it is McCain.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
McCain has nothing new to tell the American people, so he is going to spend the rest of his campaign money attacking the character of Obama. Now it never worked for Hillary, what makes McCain thinks its going to work for him, the most it's likely to do is switch people off. The economy is the Issue.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
The true measure of McCain's desperation we've already seen: his selecting Sarah Palin as his sidekick.
CHUCKMAN, TORONTO, CANADA
Get your facts right Sarah Baxter, the viewers polls from Fox News showed that Palin had won the debate by well over 80% NOT Biden. Americans are so deluded with Obama and have no idea just how corrupt he is. He has put on a facade for the Americans, they are in for a big suprise!
NO CHANGE!
James, London,
Typical American politics.
Worse than that neither Obama or McCain offer anything different. The reality is that they have not picked leaders to reprsent the Republicans or Democrats and the rest of the world will have to suffer while the US figures this out over the next 4 years.
Shame.
Frith Lane, Norfolk, USA
I think Obama must step up his campaign issues and sock it to McCain, on real issues real bread and butter issues. Leave McCain on his last ditched attempt to change the issues back to nonsense, which has nothing to do with running the economy, and the problem facing the American people.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
right or wrong you are all idiots. there is 10% of the population that will tell a polster they will vote for an African but when they go behind the beuatiful slides at the polls will go for the white guy. Your fake excitement reeks of fantasy
john bruossard, lincolntown, USA
NYTimes A review of records of the schools project and interviews with a dozen people who know both men, suggest that Obama has played down his contacts with Ayers. But the men do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers
Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada
John McCain attacking Obama's character is risky for this reason.
He is NO war hero.
He more than collaborated with his North Vietnamese captors,
and that is why he wraps himself in the flag.
Anthony Cabello, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Here comes the usual Rep gutter politics. White man running scared, and they need all their supporters to feel the same way too. It's time to cast of the fear and ignorance that has been the hallmark of American politics away for good.
OBAMA 08!
D.Kelly, NY,
Obama must stick to the economical issues and egnor the desperation of these two odd balls. Who are clutching at straw to try to deceive the American people. Using lies and scare mongering, with no solution to the dire economical mess McCain and George Bush has created over the past 8 years.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
It sounds like the last resort of a scoundrel.
Chris , London , England
So DISGUSTINGly typical of the McCain campaign. It is revolting that people can feasably be swayed by this.
Dirty, bully tactics. Not the man who left Vietnam.
Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan
Palin has obviously been give the reigns to do whatever she can to salvage the McCain Campaign... "when you ain't got nothin' you go nothin' to lose", so may as well go negative, spend those pennies on the harshest advertising possible and basically just "damn the torpedoes" shows their true colors
Paul, Victoria, Canada
McCain's campaign is failing mostly because his policies are the same as George Bush's. Sara Palin is a liability, she hardly answered a question directly during the vice-presidential debate, and in my opinion was very novicey. I do not think that she could hold her own in international company.
Eddie , Livingston, Scotland
McCain has lost one vote in Virginia - mine. Reason ? - the cynical (and absurd) selection of Palin as his running mate.
I always thought it was absolutely essential for McCain to select a viable running mate. Actuarily there is a real possibility that Palin could become president should McCain win
Paul, Charlottesville , Virginia,
What McCain and his camp have not learned is, " it's not always what you do, but how you do it". The Republicans are utterly "classless". Voters should feel insulted by Palin's middle class act. Her use of the English language should be regarded as a "put down" .McCain/Palin know voters are stupid.
Debranne, Indianapolis, US
This "turn" is not at all surprising. Once it became clear that BO was pulling away you/we all knew the Rove tactics (is this a tactic or s strategy?) would be employed. The R's have no answers just lies. Didn't Sarah' s husband support an anti-america group? Hows that work?
andrew lovett, keansburg, NJ USA
The McCain campaign is grasping for straws out of desperation. His plan to assault Barack Obama's character says more about his own character or lack thereof. I don't like the new McCain!
Gerry, Fairfax, Virgina, USA
Republicans have always resorted to hype. I believe Karl Rove revealed this tactic by taking it way too far at getting the worst president in US history elected two terms. He showed Americans how Republicans operate and we are seeing it play out again for McCain. But this time it won't succeed.
SDA, Santa Fe, NM, USA
McSame is attacking Obama's character because he has no solutions to offer the American people. He has completely wrecked his chances by putting Barbie Doll Palin on his ticket. McCain is desperate and so is fighting dirty now. This is exactly what Bush did to him in 2000. It won't work this time.
Julie , Winston-Salem, NC,
It's a sad, sad day, when McCan/Palin and their underlings have to resort to smear tactics in an effort to win. ?? Is this the "CHANGE" McCain/Palin is talking about? They themselves are not without controversy. This time their tactics will not work. We're sick of dirty politics!!!! ENOUGH !!!!
NORMA, Brooklyn, NY,
Stand by for more big lie politics from the Republican propaganda machine. They have to do it, can't run on the issues.
Chris, Tallahassee, US