Obama 'congratulates' McCain on Cheney endorsement

(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama hit key swing states Saturday, taking a jab at his GOP counterpart's endorsement by the nation's vice president.

At an event in Laramie, Wyoming, on Saturday, Vice President Dick Cheney said he will cast his ballot for the McCain-Palin ticket.

"This year, of course, I'm not on the ballot, so I am here ... not to vote for me, but I want to join daughter Liz, who is with me today, join us in casting ... our ballots for John McCain and Sarah Palin."

Obama started his day with a morning rally in Henderson, Nevada, and moved on to Pueblo, Colorado, and Springfield, Missouri.

At a rally in Pueblo, Obama lashed out at the Cheney endorsement.

"I'd like to congratulate Sen. McCain on this endorsement, because he really earned it. That endorsement didn't come easy," he said. "George Bush may be in an undisclosed location now, but Dick Cheney's out there on the campaign trail because he'd be delighted to pass the baton to John McCain."

"He knows that with John McCain, you get a twofer: George Bush's economic policy and Dick Cheney's foreign policy, Obama continued. "And that is a risk we cannot afford to take."

In a statement, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds responded, "Barack Obama and Dick Cheney aren't just cousins; they've shared support for the Bush energy policy and the out-of-control spending that John McCain has fought to oppose," he said.

Earlier at a rally in Henderson, Nevada, Obama continued to defend his tax plan for the middle class -- and defended against "socialist" claims.

"The choice in this election isn't between tax cuts and no tax cuts. It's about whether you believe we should only reward wealth or we should also reward the work and the workers who give it," he said. "John McCain calls this socialistic. I call it opportunity."

Across the country, former President Clinton hit the campaign trail for Obama in Beckley, West Virginia.

Clinton defended Obama's economic policies and blasted the GOP for believing in a "top-down economy."We can't afford the wrong philosophy, and they're out there whacking on Obama, saying he's for redistribution," Clinton said. "Gimme a break, folks."

"We just had the biggest redistribution of income upwards in the last eight years since the 1920s, and we know how the 1920s ended," he added.

Sen. Joe Biden said he hoped McCain would finish the campaign with a positive tone. The Delaware senator said he doesn't remember a presidential campaign ending so viciously.

"In my view, over the last few weeks, John McCain's campaign has gone way over the top," Biden said Saturday at an outdoor rally on Evansville, Indiana's Main Street. "They are trying to take the low road to the highest office in the land. It's not only George Bush's economic policies that John McCain has bought hook, line and sinker. He's also bought Karl Rove's brand of political tactics. VideoWatch more of Biden's take on the race »

"It is disappointing, I never thought I'd see this from a McCain campaign," Biden continued. "They're calling Barack Obama every name in the book. They are going out in a way that I don't recall it being more personally vicious."

Biden also holds events in Marion, Ohio; and Bowling Green, Ohio. Watch analysts weigh the state of the race

Biden's Republican counterpart, Gov. Sarah Palin, kicked off a bus tour of Central Florida on Saturday by focusing on the financial concerns of the nearly 3 million Floridians over the age of 65.

Palin, speaking at a rally in New Port Richey, Florida, promised that she and McCain will "keep our defining commitments to our senior citizens."

But she wasted little time on the Republican agenda and turned her sights, as usual, on Obama, who has accused McCain of wanting to cut Medicare funding and place Social Security benefits in the stock market. VideoWatch more of Palin's comments »

"Obama goes around promising a new kind of politics, then he comes here to Florida. ... He tries to exploit the fears and worries about Social Security and Medicare to our retirees, and that's the oldest and cheapest kind of politics there is," she said.

The Alaska governor had rallies scheduled in five cities in three key states Saturday: Florida, North Carolina and Virginia

At an event Saturday in Springfield, Virginia, McCain also hit Obama hard on issues facing seniors.

"Every four years, the Democrats roll out these ads try to scare seniors over Social Security and Medicare. ... I was there when we saved Social Security under President Reagan, and I'm going to protect Social Security. I'm going to protect Medicare, and I'm not going to let this Congress tax away your retirement," McCain said. VideoWatch more of McCain's Virginia rally »

McCain also told voters in Springfield, in northern Virginia, that the area is key to a Republican victory.

"I want to remind you again: Fairfax County is key to this election," McCain said. "You know that. You know how important it is for us to win here; you know how important it is that we put this country in the right direction. I need your help for the next three days."

A month ago, McCain's brother Joe called northern Virginia "communist country." And just two weeks ago, McCain adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer said the area wasn't even a "real" part of the state.

"I certainly agree that northern Virginia has gone more Democratic. And as a proud resident of Oakton, Virginia, I can tell you that the Democrats have just come in from the District of Columbia and moved into northern Virginia. And that's really what you see there. But the rest of the state, 'real' Virginia, if you will, I think will be very responsive to Sen. McCain's message."

Asked whether she wanted to clarify her comments, Pfotenhauer stood by them.

After Virginia, McCain traveled to Perkasie, Pennsylvania, for a rally before heading to New York for a scheduled appearance on "Saturday Night Live."


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