Underdog McCain puts up brave fight

12 April 2012

John McCain has come out fighting in the liveliest and most contentious debate in the race for the White House as he sought to get his faltering campaign back on track.

With less than three weeks until election day, the Republican presidential candidate repeated some of his campaign's most negative attacks to Barack Obama's face as he questioned his alleged links to a US terrorist.

Mr McCain, whose stumbling response to the economic crisis has seen him plummet in national polls, also insisted his presidency would not continue President George Bush's unpopular policies.

An initial CNN poll showed 58% thought Mr Obama had won the third and final debate of the election, which saw the two candidates sit side-by-side at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Most US political pundits also thought he had won the first two.

Only 31% thought Mr McCain won the encounter, but it was undoubtedly the Republican's strongest debate performance and such polls are often unreliable.

Some US TV networks used split screens to show the reactions of the candidates while the other was speaking: while Mr Obama retained his calm composure throughout, Mr McCain often looked angry and frustrated.

The Republican said it was time for Mr Obama to explain his relationship with 1960s radical William Ayers, a founder of the radical Weather Underground group.

The Democrat brushed off the attack, saying he was eight years old when Mr Ayers was involved in anti-war activities, including the bombing of federal buildings.

Mr Obama linked Mr McCain to Mr Bush, but - for the first time - the Republican wasted no time in hitting back.

"Senator Obama, I am not President Bush," Mr McCain said. "If you want to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago."

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