In Parallel Wording, Divergent Messages

There is no doubt that McCain has the tougher road. Not only must he convince voters that his approach is best. He must refute the charge that, with 26 years in Congress and as head of the party to whom voters assign most of the blame, he is part of the problem.

Since the crisis began, he has attempted to cut his ties to the Bush administration, as he did again yesterday, criticizing the "last eight years" and declaring: "We have to act immediately. We have to change direction now."

And he continues to paint Obama as a chameleon, too unknown and inexperienced to be trusted.

"He is an eloquent speaker, but even he can't turn a record of supporting higher taxes into a credible promise to cut taxes," McCain said. "Perhaps never in history have the American people been asked to risk so much based on so little."

McCain continued: "You know my record. You don't have to hope I will do what I promise. . . . Change isn't a political slogan, it's what I've been doing my whole career."

Obama uses almost the exact words to opposite effect. As he campaigned in Pennsylvania in recent days, Obama noted that McCain alternates between offering "experience" and "change."

"Change isn't just a motto," Obama told crowds in Philadelphia, and he added playfully: "Don't be hoodwinked. Don't be bamboozled. Don't fall for the okey-doke."

He often portrays the crisis as an opportunity to meet the challenges of patriotism and common pursuit.

"If we've learned anything from this economic crisis, it's that we're all connected, all of us -- black, white; Hispanic, Asian, Native American; young, old; rich, poor; management, labor -- it doesn't matter," Obama said. "We're all in this together, and will rise or fall as one nation, as one people."

Polls clearly indicate that Obama, for now at least, has the upper hand and that the crisis has greatly enhanced his position.

On the ground in Pennsylvania, where Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., campaigned over the weekend, and where McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin stumped yesterday, Democratic leaders said economic worries have transformed what was once a close contest.

Gov. Edward G. Rendell said Obama's "calm and reasoned approach . . . is what people want to hear, and it's turned the election around."

Rendell, like Obama and practically every Democratic surrogate, referred to McCain's performance in the economic discussion as "erratic."

And so it was notable yesterday that McCain tried to put the label elsewhere.

The "hard-earned savings of Americans should not be penalized by the erratic behavior of politicians,'' McCain said.

He was referring to Congress, and the Bush administration.