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Palin says Obama friendly with terrorists
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-05 10:45

Earlier, McCain's campaign called Obama a bald-faced liar in reference to how he characterized the Republican's plan to reform health insurance.

US Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaks during a rally in Carson, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. [Agencies]

"When you read the fine print, it's clear that John McCain is pulling an old Washington bait and switch. It's a shell game," Obama said of McCain's plan to reform health insurance.

"He gives you a tax credit with one hand but he raises your taxes with the other," Obama told about 18,000 supporters in Newport News, Virginia.

'Bald-faced lie'

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds shot back: "Barack Obama is lying to voters. ... It's a bald-faced lie."

After a week where congressional negotiations over the financial rescue package dominated the campaign, Obama had hoped to use his rally in Virginia to refocus the political discourse on health insurance and economic policy.

Some 45 million Americans live without coverage and others worry about losing coverage if they lose their jobs in the economic slump.

Both campaigns say they will improve access to health insurance and make care more affordable. On Saturday, both campaigns derided the other's plan as "radical."

The sharp exchanges came as the more than yearlong campaign entered its last month. New polls show Obama has solidified his national lead and gained an edge in crucial battleground states in recent weeks as the Wall Street crisis focused the attention of voters on the weakening economy.

McCain and Obama will get to spar in person on Tuesday when they meet for the second of three nationally televised presidential debates, this one in Nashville, Tennessee.

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