(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday charged that Sen. John McCain's campaign is launching "Swift boat-style attacks" on him instead of addressing the country's problems.
Watch: Obama fights back
"Sen. McCain and his operatives are gambling that they can distract you with smears rather than talk to you about substance. They'd rather try to tear our campaign down than lift this country up," Obama said at an event in Asheville, North Carolina.
"That's what you do when you're out of touch, out of ideas, and running out of time," he said.
The comments come a day after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate, claimed that Obama associated "with terrorists who targeted our own country."
The McCain campaign shot back on Sunday, saying its accusations are "true facts," and not "smears."
"The last four weeks of this election will be about whether the American people are willing to turn our economy and national security over to Barack Obama, a man with little record, questionable judgment, and ties to radical figures like unrepentant domestic terrorist William Ayers," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.
From CNN Politics
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Its ashame that McCain is pulling out all the stops! But when its your destiny there is nothing he can do about it. It is Obama's destiny to be our next President! If it was McCain's turn it would have happened for him when he ran against Bush. Sorry Maverick, not in this lifetime!
Not Obama, but Palin is the greatest threat to our security. She practiced a religion that looks forward to Armageddon. Do we really want a person with such beliefs to have their finger on the button that can actually bring about Armageddon? This is the most important question that voters need to consider this year.
Is Tucker Bounds related to Mrs. Palin? They seem to be cut from the same cloth. However, how does Mr. Bounds justify his VP candidate's ties to the AIP as being patriotic and trustworthy? There is video proof of her speaking to them.
CNN – please do a Special Investigations Unit program on the voter suppression/interference that is going on across the country. That is a much bigger story to ask Mr. Bounds to address and more importantly, a story that your viewers should know is going on. Former President Jimmy Carter travels the world to supervise and insure fair, democratic elections in other countries but it seems that his efforts are needed there in the USA.
need to face the truth Obama!
Smear (age, out of touch, have she read the papers? are Obama style). The press has been quite silent on most of Obama shady friends and it is time for facts.
GO GET HIM OBAMA..ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.BRING OUT THE
DIRT ON MCCAIN AND PALIN..
"The last four weeks of this election will be about whether the American people are willing to turn our economy and national security over to Barack Obama, a man with little record, questionable judgment, and ties to radical figures like unrepentant domestic terrorist William Ayers," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.
REAL AMERICANS DO NOT TRUST OBAMA!!!
The republican Swift Boat- style attacks have had their day. Such vindictiveness will not put food on peoples' tables or give people health insurance or a roof over their heads. Solutions are needed badly, not more of the Republican['s venal attacks. If you want to be president, John McCain, better start acting like one.
Gosh Darn, Sarah!!! You want to use the bible to promote hate and intolerance but fail to mention that the bible also says that there is no place in heaven for liars. You want everyone to believe that you are such a moral God loving person but with all the lies you are spreading againt Obama and the so called ties to terroist that you are reserving your place in hell. Maybe you should have stayed in Alaska and in your church. But then again don't all so called Christians pick and choose what they say is right and wrong in the bible to justify their own sins as bieng ok. All the Republicans can do now is stoop lower than Bush ever has.
Please Americans, don't let this work again. McCain is nothing but a cheap distraction. He is out of time, out of ideas and almost out of money. So, here come the lies and the swift boats.
We need to discuss the issues not the petty distraction. Come on McCain...where is your plan? What will you do to help this country . We will not be mislead by you lies.
The whole world is feeling this economic pinch and all McCain camp can come up with is personal attack. Be careful what you wish for. There's Keating 5 and the Trooper Gate. McCain, tell the American people what your plans are for this economic turmoil otherwise you're not going to win this election. We are feeling the economic heat so badly I can't can see straight. And I don't care who provides me the relief I need.
Tucker Bounds is a little cry baby girl. He is so annoying. He answers questions with questions and everything is Obama's fault no matter how much sense it makes or does not make. I don't think the McCain/Gomer Pyle campaign can put anything together that is not a lie, just stop and talk about the issues, be respectful of the American people atleast once in your campaign!!!
Barack, there are no distractions.You are a fraud. Don't wait for McCain to do something and criticize him. You do not have any positive issues of your own. You have no experience so what you can do but just criticize McCain. Get a life.
Since the repugs can't run on the issues, they go back to the Karl Rove brand of elections. NOT THIS TIME!
If the American people were gullable enough to buy that- they'd derserve mcSAME- but we are smarter than that!
Again, NOT THIS TIME!
Hes right mccain knows hes not strong on the economy and obama is. so mccain will now try to distract voters on using the fear card wont work the economy is the number one issuse besides everyone knows MCCAIN AND HIS CAMPAIGN ARE COMPLETE LIARS they are desperate so instead of mccain sticking to the issuses and telling the people his plans as president ,hes going to resort to smears and lies bad move johnnie IT WONT WORK!!
Tina Fey pretty much exemplified the talents and abilities of S Palin on last night's Saturday Night Live.
For Palin to suggest Obama sympathizes with terrorists for having contact Ayers years ago is the height of stupidity.
It's a relief to see that Americans are finally able to see through this charade.
An Obama victory is in the works without a doubt.
all negatives for barack- rezko, ayers,michelle obama,rev . wright(barack not 8 years old) the list goes on . THIS IS RELAVENT TO THIS COUNTRY
Sarah Palin is a distraction.
Great ad, and it is the truth as well ( a rare thing in these ads...).
McCain must be really desperate and stupid. Desperate to try and fool the votersabout this crisis and stupid to think that the voters will not notice and actually follow his BS arguments.
Americans cannot afford another 4 years of Republican rule......McCain keeps saying the surge worked......for who? not for Americans .....we're almost bankrupt and the world economy is suffering......The Taliban said they would hurt Americans where it counts......many lives have been lost and this war that McCain wants to continue is costing us more than we ever expected........
lost jobs, failed economic situation, poor infrastructure and even poorer heath program.........
Gee, could it be that he is just trying to do what the main stream media did not?? I guess you bought them off but you can't buy McCain and the republicans off.
All your dirty laundry will be aired for the world to see this month.
McCain/Palin 08
I could have done better, I think if not for this nasty upper and lower respiratory infection! found fathers = founding fathers and wonder instrument = wonderful instrument. I can't sit up for long. But it feels important to add my two cents! Teachers don't make enough money to give much in donations to a campaign, but I can speak my mind when I have an opinion. Put it in or not. As my old Uncle used to say, I did what I needed to do in good conscience.... what they did with it is on their conscience. I come from good souther stock with lots of NA ancestry added to is. There now.... I'm exhausted. enough...
The filthy Republicans have nothing else than their standard old fear and smear campaign. And the stupid part of the American public beleives every bit of it, and they are also a big voting bloc. Can the smart people of America mobilize and take our country back from these buffoons? Please?
Shame, Shame, and Shame on you McLame ... I am not surprise with your party's action. When you have a lame duck and clueless man as the head of the party, the only thing they can offer the public is distraction and lies...
Obama we are with you all the way and I hope Americans will make a good choice and not fall for Republican's tricks
aurelia- toronto, Canada
I am far more concerned about the right wing Christian extremists with whom Sarah Palin is closely aligned than I am a guy Obama served on a Board with a couple of years ago.
Distractions? How about swif-boating? Too many people have been directly affected by the current administration. Let's take away the spotlight from the inadequacies of the current administration and maybe if we bring up something else the American people will forget that the Republicans were the majority vote in congress for 6 of the last 8 years and that Bush was president. Does McCain really think the American people are that dumb? Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me...now the American people are bright-eyed and will not get fooled for a third time.
Cbama/Biden 08