Republican presidential hopeful John McCain finally got the message on Michigan's miserable economy, making it the centerpiece of his town hall at a Belleville stamping plant during a recent stop.
After last speaking in the state in May on child pornography and human trafficking and turning down the keynote speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference, the Republican's campaign seemed back on track. "Michigan is hurting," he repeatedly declared, offering up a mix of tax cuts and alternative energy to boost jobs.
icans as "a nation of whiners."

By LAURA MECKLER WASHINGTON - Voter preferences have long been split by race and gender, but this year's election is adding another divide: a sharp age gap.
Democrat Barack Obama has a strong lead among younger voters, and Republican John McCain is solidly in front among older voters. That divide has grown in the past month, according to the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
turn out these supporters. While older people have a better track record at turning out to vote, there is greater potential to increase the youth share of the total electorate.

By KATHLEEN GRAY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • July 22, 2008 The polls may not be running in Sen. John McCain’s favor in Michigan, but the campaign’s

DETROIT, July 22 (UPI) -- Michigan is a battleground state for US presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, a new poll indicates.