McCain tells Fox News "Things are heading our way," feels that Obama is "buying the election"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican John McCain's U.S. presidential campaign suffered a double blow on Sunday when Democratic rival Barack Obama won the support of former Secretary of State Colin Powell and announced he raised a record $150 million in September.

The backing by Powell, who said he plans to vote for Obama in the November 4 election, gives a boost to the foreign policy and national security credentials of the first-term Illinois senator.

McCain, despite trailing in opinion polls, said he still expects to win the election and he could sense "things are heading our way."

"We're very happy with the way the campaign is going," McCain said on the "Fox News Sunday" program. "I've been on enough campaigns, my friend, to sense enthusiasm and momentum, and we've got it."

In the midst of economic turmoil and with just over two weeks to go until the election, Obama leads in national polls and in many battleground states but McCain said he sees some movement in his direction.

Obama's lead over McCain has dropped to 3 points, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday. Obama leads McCain 48 to 45 percent among likely U.S. voters, down 1 percentage point from Saturday.

McCain, 72, a veteran senator from Arizona, is trailing by a much larger margin in campaign funds. Obama's prodigious fundraising has allowed him to blanket the air waves with advertisements, sometime by a margin of 4-to-1 over McCain.

By bringing in at least $150 million in September, Obama more than doubled the $66 million he raised in August, which had been a record. McCain has accepted public financing and is limited to spending $84 million for the entire campaign.

'LEADS TO SCANDAL'

Unlike McCain, Obama, 47, chose not to accept public funding for his campaign, freeing the first-term Illinois senator to raise millions privately.

The Obama campaign said it had 632,000 new donors in September to bring its total to 3.1 million. It said the average donation for the month was less than $100.

McCain again chided Obama for not living up to his pledge to accept public funds and warned of the damages of unlimited spending.

"I'm saying that history shows us where unlimited amounts of money are in political campaigns, it leads to scandal," he said. When asked whether Obama was buying the election: "I think you could make that argument."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081019/pl_nm/us_usa_politics;_ylt=ApcWcWzC_t9mQ826m36WtqlZ.3QA

[liberalmuse]

1. You mean like the Republicans have been doing for years?

At least he's 'buying' the election FOR, BY and OF The American people. An average of $86 per donor. Not with corporate and special interest money.

[iceman66]

4. Exactly.

With an average donation of $86 WE are buying Obama the election!

[RayOfHope]

2. Republicans=dish it out, but can't take it. WAH, WAH, WAH. n/t

[bigdarryl]

3. And you fuckers on the right have been STEALING!!! elections

[Occam Bandage]

5. The Republicans have been buying elections with corporate cash for decades. A Dem

manages to outraise the Republican machine with sub-$100 donations from average citizens, and suddenly they complain about "buying the election" and vague threats of "scandal."

[saltpoint]

6. There's no lift to McCain's message, start to finish, summer to fall.

His entire campaign is based on smearing Obama.

Needed items: one Fat Lady and one very large fork.

[LynnTheDem]

7. "I've been on enough campaigns..." Yes, and you lost then, too.

[justiceischeap]

8. Do I sense jealousy on the part of McCain*? I think so. (eom)

[AlCzervik]

9. we the people are the one's donating the money so suck it McCain.

[Democat]

10. What is McCain, a SOCIALIST? Obama the capitalist says...

Funny to hear Republicans calling Obama a socialist and, at the same time, saying Obama is too much of a capitalist!

The next thing they will say is that Obama is both a Muslim and a Christian. :rofl:

[Higher Standard]

11. So, he feels the American people are sell-outs?

I guess none of us occupy the "pro-America" areas of the country.

[bobd0]

12. McCain whines longer and louder than a jet crashing into a lake

Please, someone, ANYONE, MAKE HIM STOP!

McCain's incessant high pitched whining is beginning to annoy my dogs.

[AwakeAtLast]

13. Well John, you certainly would be the one to know about lots of money and a scandal!

Mr. Keating is missing your companionship, isn't he?

:grr:

What. An. ASS!

[progressivebydesign]

14. ah McCain and the media is still pushing that "closing in on the polls" bullshit, I see.

The day I believe Zogby is a reliable source for polling, is the day I believe Palin is qualified to be prez. They are trying to get us to believe it's closer, and that Dems are tied into the ACORN registration issue, so that they can make it plausible when they steal the fucking election next month.

All it takes is ONE or TWO states for those jerks to contest... and the repub leaning supreme court, for this go badly.

Fuck them and their meme that they're tightening up the race.

[Captiosus]

15. Buying the election? ROFL.

Just once I wish I could get on one of these Sunday morning news programs.
This is what I'd say:

"I hear McCain and his surrogates trying to claim Obama is 'buying' this election. If anyone is 'buying' - or in some cases trying to steal - this election, it's John McCain.

It started with Bush handing out free money checks, the so-called "economic stimulus" which had little to no tangible impact, to try to drum up good will toward the Republican party. It continues with McCain's relentless talking of tax breaks for everyone which the country, heading towards 10 trillion in debt, cannot afford. It culminates with corporations like Diebold handing out rigged voting machines to voting districts.

So, please, Senator McCain, leave your hyperbole at the door. There's only one person trying to buy or steal this election and it's not Senator Obama."

[Waiting For Everyman]

16. Democracy working is such a bummer for them!

The internet is running rings around the lobbyist-bundlers.

Awww. Too bad. :cry:

Whatever will McC's billionaire constituents do? They can't help him out themselves, thanks to his own "reforms" which have him painted into a corner now. :rofl:

To quote Dylan, "things have changed".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQDeYzUkXOU

[krkaufman]

17. Then it's just too damn bad that we have a political system ...

... where money can play such a large role, Johnny. Your party probably should have done something to help make elections public-financed, eh? Suck on it.

[frylock]

18. the average donation for the month was less than $100..

try and keep up, old man. these aren't your precious corporate dollars, my friend.