McCain's last stand
Oct 23rd 2008 | SCRANTON
From The Economist print edition

The Republican contender is hoping for a surprise victory in Pennsylvania


JOHN McCAIN began the final fortnight of this seemingly endless presidential campaign by barnstorming across Pennsylvania. He hammered away at his rival’s inexperience and naivety, to great applause, and argued that his “outdated” economic ideology could produce another Depression. But will it work?

Pennsylvania is the odd man out in the current election campaign, the only big state that voted Democratic in 2004 that Mr McCain is still devoting serious resources to. The airwaves are crackling with political ads (the campaigns have spent a combined $27m on them since mid-June). Big supporters drop in almost every day.

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12480396