Obama and McCain campaign in states their parties lost in 2004
Democrat Barack Obama discusses patriotism in Missouri while Republican John McCain stumps in Pennsylvania.
The likely presidential nominees of the major political parties today went to states their parties lost in 2004, as they worked to reverse those results in this fall's general election.
Democrat Barack Obama delivered a speech on patriotism this morning in Independence, Mo., while Republican John McCain campaigned in Pennsylvania.
As the nation gets ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, patriotism is a timely as well as a touchy issue. Obama's patriotism was questioned during the primary campaigns. Recently, there have been questions from the Obama camp about whether McCain's military experience qualifies him to be president.
"I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign," Obama said this morning. "And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine."
In 2004, George W. Bush won Missouri and its 11 electoral votes. Obama won the state in the Democratic presidential primary, narrowly defeating Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The McCain camp is hoping to make inroads in Pennsylvania, which was won by Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004, but by just two percentage points over President Bush.
New York Sen. Clinton defeated Illinois Sen. Obama in this year's Pennsylvania presidential primary. Obama had trouble with white blue-collar workers, whom Arizona Sen. McCain has targeted. Pennsylvania has 21 electoral votes.
In Missouri, Obama discussed "what patriotism means to him and what it requires of all Americans who love this country and want to see it do better," according to his campaign.
Obama has recently begun to wear a flag pin on his lapel after the absence of one became a minor issue during the nominating contests.
McCain has focused on security and terrorism, issues on which polls show he has an advantage over Obama. McCain, a former POW during the Vietnam War, has also emphasized his military credentials.
Over the weekend, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate who is now supporting Obama, said McCain's military service does not automatically qualify him to be commander in chief.
"In the matters of national security policymaking, it's a matter of understanding risk," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war."
