Obama says he's becoming competitive in red states

[babylonsister]

Obama says he's becoming competitive in red states

By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh


CHICAGO (AP) -- With 100 days remaining in the race for the White House, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama says he has succeeded in expanding the electoral map in his race against John McCain, principally in southern and southwestern states but also in Montana and North Dakota.

"It doesn't mean we're going to win all those states but at least we're making it a contest and giving voters something to choose from," he said in an interview aboard his campaign jet on the way back from an overseas trip.

"Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia are all states where we are competitive," he said, adding he is going "toe to toe" with his rival in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada.

Before leaving Europe on Saturday, Obama told reporters he might suffer a small drop in the polls after being out of the country for more than a week. In the AP interview and an appearance on NBC's Meet The Press, he indicated he intends to shift his focus quickly toward the economy and other domestic issues in the coming days.

Depending on actions the current administration and Congress take, he told AP a new economic stimulus package may be his first legislative request from lawmakers if he takes office as the 44th president in January. He has called previously for additional tax rebates and other measures to help revive the economy, and intends to convene a meeting on the subject on Monday in Washington.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_AP_INTERVIEW?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Cha]

1. This is the way to get the news out there that a new

guy is coming to town and he's worth taking a look at.

[depakid]

2. It's also a way to get Republicans to divert resources to safe electoral states

which leaves them less for states in the rust belt, where the election's likely to be decided.

[Cha]

3. Yes! That

too.