IN THE HEADLINES

McCain calls Obama a liar in harshest criticism yet ... Obama says McCain should be more specific about economic crisis ... Palin expands criticism of Obama to include Rev. Wright; tones down description of Ayers ... As deadline nears, one Palin ethics investigation cloaked in secrecy; another beset by lawsuit ... Despite Wyoming's long tradition as a red state, Obama campaign has office and staff

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McCain calls Obama a liar

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Behind in the polls, Republican John McCain on Monday called Democratic rival Barack Obama a liar as he leveled his harshest criticism yet, and said the campaign boils down to one basic question: Who is Obama really?

Adopting an aggressive tone on the eve of their second debate of the season, the GOP presidential candidate criticized Obama's ties to Chicago, his legislative record and even his pair of best-selling memoirs.

McCain, speaking about the financial crisis, took offense at Obama's accusation that McCain opposed regulation that would have prevented the credit crunch. "I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough it will be believed," McCain said.

The Arizona senator, a veteran of more than two decades in Congress, told his audience that while he is a known quantity the same cannot be said about Obama, who is midway through his first term as a senator from Illinois.

Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said McCain is a "truly angry candidate" who is trying to divert attention from the economy and that it was Obama who warned, in 2007, of the subprime mortgage crisis now blamed for the turmoil in the financial industry.

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Obama says McCain should focus on economy

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Barack Obama said Monday that John McCain is trying to shift attention from the troubled economy because the issue is bad for the Republican presidential nominee's campaign.

The Democratic presidential candidate also implored federal officials to take swift action as Wall Street recorded another record one-day decline amid a global sell-off of stocks.

Obama told reporters in Asheville, N.C., that he was surprised his Republican rival's campaign would signal an effort to avoid talking about the financial turmoil because McCain advisers fear it could cause him to lose the election.

"I've got news for the McCain campaign: The American people are losing right now," he said. "They're losing their jobs. They're losing their health care. They're losing their homes. They're losing their savings.