Obama aide pledges quick attack response

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign manager promised "speed and ferocity" Friday in responses to Republican attacks.

David Plouffe e-mailed reporters saying that Republican nominee John McCain has shown he "is willing to go into the gutter," the Washington Post reported.

We will not allow John McCain and his band of Karl Rove disciples to make this big election about small things," Plouffe wrote.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware will play a key role in the effort. Plouffe said that Biden will respond to Republican attacks and keep "the debate focused on delivering for ordinary Americans."

Biden was in Texas Friday while Obama was to deliver a speech in New Hampshire.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, in a conference call, said that the campaign has begun focusing on states that might be winnable. He admitted that the campaign has stopped running ads in Georgia and transferred staff from there to North Carolina.

Since the end of the Republican convention and the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain has taken a lead in several polls.