ELECTION 2008

In the final stretches of their campaigns, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain visited several hotly-contested states. (Left, Doug Mills/NYT; right, Stephen Crowley/NYT)

In last days, Obama and McCain focus on swing states

On the last Sunday before the election, the presidential candidates and their running mates kept up a relentless pace by visiting states their respective parties had lost in 2004.

Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee who is trailing in national polls, was making appearances in two states that voted Democratic in 2004, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, where he will hold his final town hall. On Monday, he will visit five swing states — starting with a midnight rally in Florida then Virginia, Indiana, New Mexico and Nevada — along with a stop in Tennessee before flying home to Arizona for Election Day.

"Now let me give you a little straight talk about the state of the race today," McCain said hoarsely at a morning rally at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. "There's just two days left. We're a couple of points behind in Pennsylvania. The pundits have written us off, just like they've done before."

Then his voice cleared: "My friends, the Mac is back!"

Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, spent Sunday speaking at rallies in the largest cities in the hotly contested state of Ohio, with Bruce Springsteen taking the stage Sunday evening in Cleveland to warm up the crowd. On Monday, he will visit three states that voted Republican in 2004, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, before heading home to Chicago. Read more.