McCain Still Fighting for New Mexico's Five Electoral Votes!

With less than a month to go before America chooses a new president, the gloves are off between the two men who want the job. Republican John McCain rallied about 750 supporters on the UNM Campus in Albuquerque on Monday. He delivered his harshest criticisms yet of rival Barack Obama. McCain said he is the one who will deliver on change.

Here's the audio from McCain's short speech which he begins by recognizing the long national service of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici.



“You don’t have to hope that things will change when you vote for me and Sarah Palin. You know things will change, because I’ve been fighting for change in Washington my whole career,” said McCain.

About 100 Obama supporters, standing just outside the Student Union Building, could be heard by McCain supporters inside the rally chanting, "Vote for Change...Not McCain."

Despite the chants, Arizona senator pressed on with his criticisms of Obama. He said he's not new on the political scene and America knows him and trusts him to put his country first.

"You need to know who you're putting in the White House, and where the candidate came from, and what he or she believes."

McCain told the crowd that Obama get's "defensive" when asked about what he has accomplished in government.

"My Opponent's touchiness every time he's questioned about his record should make us only more concerned. For a guy who's already authored two memoirs, he's not exactly an open book," said McCain. "There are essential things we don't know about Senator Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign."

McCain departed the city just after 2pm to head to Nashville to prepare for the 2nd national debate on Tuesday night.

No word when McCain will return to the state where he trails Obama by 5 percentage points in recent polls, but some people believe it may be as early as Thursday or Friday to shore up support in Southern, NM.