Sarah Jacob
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 9:27 AM (Pennsylvania)
With exactly one week to go for US election day on November 4, the US presidential candidates are taking their fight to the key state of Pennsylvania.
Obama and McCain are battling it out for Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes. Though polls say Pennsylvania is Obama country, one group is intent on proving the polls wrong, a group called 'Democrats for McCain'.
For three consecutive weekends, the 'Democrats for McCain' have travelled to Pennsylvania campaigning for Republican John McCain. Members of the group are mostly former Hillary Clinton supporters, who have forsaken their party's nominee to endorse McCain.
"Pennsylvania is a key swing state that we think McCain can win because Obama called Pennsylvanians as clinging to guns and religion. McCain has a very good chance as like Hillary Clinton he can relate to rural voters here," said Raj, Democrats for McCain.
The polls show Barack Obama with a 10-point in Pennsylvania but 'Democrats for McCain' is encouraged by the fact that the state resoundingly rejected Obama in the primaries.
"I was campaigning in Pennsylvania for Hillary in the primaries. It was very difficult for a lot of the voters in Pennsylvania to feel comfortable with Barack Obama. It is hard to just erase all that. It was very clear to them then, and it is still lingering with them now. He is not the right candidate for this country," said Christopher, Democrats for McCain.
Pennsylvania is a pivotal player in McCain's victory strategy; all of his hopes of a surprise win in the November 4 elections depend on what happens there.
Though Obama is way ahead in the polls, it's a lead that has been built assiduously. He lost Pennsylvania to Hillary Clinton by nine points in the primaries over difficulty to connect with working-class Pennsylvanians.
With 21 electoral votes at stake both McCain and Obama crisscrossed Pennsylvania on October 28.
"In this last week, we cannot afford to slow down, or sit back or let up whether it's rain, or sleet, or snow, we are going to go out and we are going to vote because it's too much at stake," said Barack Obama, US Democratic presidential candidate.
With Barack Obama gaining ground in traditionally Republican states, Pennsylvania with its 21 electoral votes has become crucial for the McCain campaign.
"My friends, it's wonderful to be back in Pennsylvania and it's wonderful to fool the pundits because we're going to win the state of Pennsylvania," said John McCain, Republican Presidential Candidate.
The only problem is that Pennsylvania has not voted for a Republican in 20 years.