Leading in polls, Obama plays it safe

Soothing words for gun owners
Ohio's gun owners, Strickland said, "have nothing to fear from Barack Obama." Nor do people who revere "family and faith," he said, calling Obama as "a strong Christian, family man."

The National Rifle Association is running ads against Obama. Internet-driven rumors have falsely claimed he is a Muslim.

Brown, the first-term senator, also criticized McCain by name in Chillicothe, saying he learned his economic lessons from the Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial pages.

Obama does not leave all the heavy lifting to surrogates. Referring to McCain and Palin, he told the Chillicothe audience, "it's not hard to rile up a crowd by stoking anger and division." He said Americans want "someone who can lead this country" in a time of economic crisis, not divide it.

Noting that McCain advisers have said their candidate will lose if the campaign's focus stays on the economy, Obama said: "So in the last couple of days, we've seen a barrage of nasty insinuations and attacks, and I'm sure we'll see much more over the next 25 days. We know what's coming. ... But it won't work."

Obama is playing it safe on policy, too, avoiding the far-reaching proposals that have caused McCain headaches. McCain's call this week for the government to buy bad home-loan mortgages at full face value and renegotiate them at a reduced price set off loud protests from conservatives and liberals alike.

On Friday, McCain called for legislation to suspend a requirement that investors age 70 1/2 begin to draw down their retirement accounts, which could force them to sell stocks at low prices.

Limited economic proposals
Obama's proposals have been more limited. His proposal Friday to temporarily extend an expiring tax break that lets small businesses immediately write off investments would cover only investments up to $250,000 and cost the Treasury $900 million, Obama aides said.

Campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said, "The other campaign has been focused entirely on us. We've been focused entirely on the economy."

McCain concedes, urges unity with Obama McCain joins Fey to joke on 'SNL' John McCain still has a shot Subscribe to McCain headlines -

Obama elected 44th president Obama campaign head gets big book deal Tears of joy, dancing in streets over Obama win Subscribe to Obama headlines -

MORE FROM

Section Front

Obama campaign head gets big book deal Officials turn down Franken request Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008 First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount... Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots Section Front   Add headlines to your news reader: