McCain still has Pennsylvania hopes

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Campaigners for Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain say that, despite numerous polls, they're competitive in Pennsylvania and need to win it.

With recent polls conducted by Marist, Quinnipiac, Rasmussen, SurveyUSA and The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, Pa., all showing Barack Obama, D-Ill., having a double-digit lead in the state, advisers to McCain, R-Ariz., say they believe the state is winnable, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

McCain made three stops Tuesday in Pennsylvania, telling a crowd in suburban Philadelphia, "We need to win Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, and with your help -- with your help -- we're going to win!" While some GOP backers were questioning the wisdom of concentrating on a state that has backed every Democratic presidential candidate since 1992, McCain's strategists said giving up on the key state would have sent the wrong message.

"When we look at our numbers, we think we're competitive here," Mark Salter, McCain's closest adviser, told reporters in Harrisburg, Pa/. adding, "We would like to get as many (Hillary) Clinton supporters as we can."

Salter said McCain can still peel off conservative, pro-gun Democrats in western Pennsylvania.