Campaign Trail

Back on the stump

• Matthew Price
• 16 Oct 08, 10:21 PM GMT

Has John McCain finally found his feet after several days in which he appeared to lose his focus and his direction?

In a rally in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, he sounded his surest yet.

Of the handful of rallies that I have seen, this was the best.

Lashing out at Barack Obama over what he regards as the crucial issue of at the moment, namely: Joe the plumber.

This was a plumber who met Barack Obama on the campaign trail last Sunday.

Senator Obama said he believes in using taxes as a way of redistributing wealth.

Mr McCain was at his most lively saying he did not believe that America and Americans should have to redistribute wealth.

He believes the best way forward for America is to create more wealth.

It was John McCain fighting with politics rather than with negativity,something his campaign has been accused of in recent weeks.

Yes, those personal attacks continue in advertisements that run on television and radio stations, but on the campaign trail, on the stump, on stage in front of his supporters John McCain really seems to find his voice when he is fighting Obama on his policies.

Joe the plumber may have come too late for John McCain.

Perhaps his greatest adversary now is time, but - as he keeps reminding people - there are still 19 days left in this campaign.

And he and many of his supporters that I have spoken to believe that they can turn this around.