Obama, McCain fire final shots of campaign

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain took their final shots at each other and swept across battleground states on Monday to wrap up a U.S. presidential campaign in which Obama was leading but McCain hoped to pull off a historic upset.

After campaigning for almost two years, the candidates were running on adrenaline, buoyed by big crowds and preparing to end up in their home states -- Obama in Illinois, McCain in Arizona -- to await Americans' judgment on Tuesday.

Huge challenges are in store for the winner, including restoring growth to the sagging U.S. economy, fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, getting a handle on a budget deficit running close to $500 billion and restoring the luster of the world's lone superpower.

Interest in the election to determine a successor to unpopular President George W. Bush was high. Millions of Americans had already voted early and election officials were bracing for long lines at polling stations. A record turnout, easily eclipsing the 2004 vote total of more than 121 million, was possible.

The candidates began the last day of campaign 2008 in Florida, scene of the famous 2000 recount battle that Bush won and a state McCain needs to stave off defeat. McCain was hitting seven states in 22 hours in a last-ditch marathon.

Illinois Sen. Obama, 47, who would be America's first black president, rode his message as an anti-Bush change agent and was sailing along with the lead in national opinion polls and in many swing states that will determine the outcome.

Obama, who was also campaigning in North Carolina and Virginia, said in Jacksonville: "I have just one word for you, Florida: Tomorrow."

"In these last 36 hours, we can't afford to slow down or sit back or let up, not one minute, not one hour, not one second. Not any time in the next thirty six hours," he said.

He said McCain could point to a few instances where he broke with Bush but "when it comes to the economy, when it comes to the central issue of this election, the plain truth is that John McCain has stood with George Bush every step of the way."

McCain, faced with the herculean task of extending Republican rule of the White House for a third straight term with the current incumbent's unpopularity draped on his shoulders, was hoping for a miracle finish.

'MEASURING THE DRAPES'

"The pundits have written us off just like they've done before and my opponent is measuring the drapes in the White House," McCain told a spirited rally in Tampa, Florida. "The pundits may not know it and the Democrats may not know it, but 'the Mac' is back. We're going to win this election."

McCain, 72, who would be the oldest person ever elected to a first presidential term, accused Obama of wanting to raise taxes to pursue liberal policies.

"He's in the far left lane of American politics and he's stuck there," McCain said in Blountville, Tennessee. He had stops planned in Pennsylvania, Indiana and New Mexico as well.

In a sad development, Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, died of cancer on Monday in Hawaii. Obama had gone to visit her last month. "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility," he said in a statement.