Pa. awaits a blizzard of visits

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, August, 2008 | by Angela Couloumbis Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau

Tomorrow in Western Pennsylvania, Sen. Barack Obama will kick off his campaign as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. On Saturday, Sen. John McCain - perhaps with his newly named running mate - will touch down in the state for the 16th time since becoming the Republican Party's presumptive nominee.

And that is just the beginning. Both parties agree there will be a blizzard of presidential campaign stops in Pennsylvania between now and November. Once again, the state is a crucial election battleground; in June and July, for instance, more TV ad money was spent here than in any other state. The consensus among political leaders and pundits is that the state will play a decisive role in determining who wins the White House - with Obama having more at stake. If the...