McCain gets a final crack at Obama in debate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican John McCain has a final chance on Wednesday to directly confront Democratic rival Barack Obama in a debate, with McCain's hopes of reviving his flagging White House bid possibly riding on the outcome.
Three weeks before the November 4 presidential election, McCain is running out of time and opportunities to halt Obama's momentum and reshape a White House race that appears on the verge of tipping decisively toward Obama.
The 90-minute encounter at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT Thursday) will be the third and last debate between the U.S. presidential contenders, and their final chance to reach a likely television audience of 60 million or more.
"I'm not sure Wednesday's debate is make or break for McCain, but it has to be the start of any successful closing argument he makes in this race," said Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.
Obama has moved into a solid lead over McCain in the race as the deepening economic crisis focuses voter attention on the issue. Polls show voters prefer the Illinois senator's economic leadership.
McCain fumbled his first two debate chances against Obama, who was judged the winner in post-debate polls.
"The first two presidential debates didn't change the discussion a whole lot," Cullen said. "But a lot of things can change in three weeks."
McCain has struggled to find a coherent message as the economy has dominated the discussion on the campaign trail and in the first two debates. McCain's campaign attacked Obama last week for his association with a former 1960s radical, but the Arizona senator dialed back the attacks over the weekend.
On Monday, McCain unveiled a new theme, pronouncing himself the feisty underdog who would fight for U.S. voters. On Tuesday, he shifted back to the economy and rolled out proposals for tax relief for seniors and others dealing with the stock market's recent plunge.
NO MORE PERSONAL ATTACKS?
Republicans said they did not expect McCain would level more personal attacks on Obama in the debate, which polls show have not worked and have driven up McCain's unfavorable rating with voters.
But some Republicans said they hoped McCain would still draw sharp contrasts with Obama while outlining more clearly his priorities as president.
"I don't expect a slugfest, although there are a lot of people asking for it," said Katon Dawson, chairman of the Republican Party in South Carolina, site of McCain's most bitter defeat in a 2000 primary and one of his biggest wins during this year's nominating battle.
"I want to see the John McCain who came back to win in South Carolina this year, and that was an honorable man with a vision for America," Dawson said.
"For whatever reason we have not been seeing that," he said. "I know the obituaries are being written, but John McCain has had his obituary written on numerous occasions and come back."
The debate will focus on domestic policy and the economy. Obama and McCain will be seated at a table with moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News, not standing at podiums as in the first debate. That could provoke more direct exchanges than in the first two encounters.
Both candidates have been working debate preparation into their schedules. McCain did some preparation on Sunday and was expected to do more before the debate in New York.
As he did before the last two debates, Obama camped in a battleground state to do his prep work in order to pick up some local media coverage while he was at it. This time he was in Ohio, where polls show he has opened a slight lead.
The debate will be the last big event in the campaign before both candidates hit the trail for a whirlwind 2 1/2-week drive to the November 4 finish.
"After I whip his you-know-what in this debate, we're going to be going out 24/7" on the campaign trail, McCain said over the weekend.
(Editing by David Wiessler)
