Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 9, 2008

McCain Surges in Polls as Obama Challenges Him on Change
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Both candidates in US presidential race campaigned Monday on issues of
change and economy 
New public opinion polls show Republican John Mc Cain surging in the
U.S. presidential race over Democrat Barack Obama. Both candidates
campaigned Monday on the issues of change and the economy, as we hear
from VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone.

 Senator Mc Cain appears to have gotten a sizable boost from last week's
Republican convention. Mc Cain now leads in two Gallup polls, and is
tied with Senator Obama in two other national surveys.

 Most polls had Obama ahead prior to both party conventions.

 Mc Cain's campaign seems to enjoy new life thanks in large part to the
addition of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Republican candidate for
vice president.

       Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (left) introduces John Mc Cain to
audience in Kansas City, Mo., 8 Sep 2008Palin introduced Mc Cain Monday
at a rally in Missouri.

"In politics, there are candidates who use change to promote their
careers, and then there are those like John Mc Cain who use their
careers to promote change," she said.

 Mc Cain has shifted his emphasis in recent days to making the argument
that he and Palin are the true candidates of change, and that their
reputations as political mavericks will bring reform to Washington.

 "We don't work for a party and we don't work for a special interest. We
don't work for ourselves. We are going to work for you and we are going
to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. and we are going to take on the
special interests," he said.

 Senator Obama also focused on the economy Monday during a campaign
event in Michigan, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in
the country.

       Barack Obama campaigning in Michigan 8 Sep 2008But Obama took
issue with Mc Cain's attempt to portray the Republican ticket as agents
of change after eight years of Republican control of the White House.

"I mean, you can't just make stuff up. You can't just recreate yourself.
You can't just reinvent yourself. The American people are not stupid!
What they are looking for is somebody who has been consistently calling
for change," he said.

 Obama got some help from former Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who
campaigned for the Democratic ticket of Obama and vice presidential
candidate Joe Biden in Florida.

"If we want to tackle the myriad of challenges facing our country, then
to slightly amend my comments from Denver [at the Democratic
convention], no way, no how, no Mc Cain, no Palin," she said.

 Meanwhile, the surprise choice of Governor Palin to serve as Senator Mc
Cain's running mate won praise from both President Bush and Vice
President Dick Cheney.

 The president told Fox television that Senator Mc Cain made what he
called an "inspired pick" with Palin, while Vice President Cheney said
he thought Palin's speech at last week's Republican convention was
"superb".


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