(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.

"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."

Turning her into "Hannity in a skirt' is a big mistake.

It'll drive down her favorables even more with women and moderates.

So.......Thanks, Maverick John!

...numbers.

Shelia_B:

RCP has his national average as +5.9%.

"Haha! He's ONLY winning by nearly 6 points! And there are 30 days left....he is sooooooooooooo doomed! ...uh..........right?......hel­lo?.......please???"

LOL