McCain works on gender gap

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain is trying to erase or at least reduce the gender gap favoring his Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race.

Since Tuesday night's debate, McCain, R-Ariz., has focused on domestic issues, especially healthcare and mortgage foreclosures, the Boston Globe reported. On Wednesday, McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, were in two swing states, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Two McCain aides acknowledged after the debate that the candidate's plan to buy up mortgages for homeowners who now owe more than their homes are worth was inspired by a proposal that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., put forward during the primaries.

Recent polls have shown female voters leaning towards Obama almost as much as they did for Bill Clinton, the last Democrat to win the presidency.

"The dream of owning a home should not be crushed under the weight of a bad mortgage," McCain said at a rally Wednesday at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.