From a Pennsylvania rainstorm to a thunderous Virginia rally, Democrat Barack Obama revved up his followers Tuesday, offering lofty promises of new politics and governing. Targeting two key states, Obama stayed on the safe ground of lumping Republican rival John McCain with President Bush. McCain and running mate Sarah Palin told a Pennsylvania audience that "it's wonderful to fool the pundits" and vowed to pull out an upset win over Obama. McCain headed to North Carolina and Florida before the campaign day was over. Palin was heading on her own to other events in Pennsylvania after the rally in Hershey.

SOME SAY BOO TO HALLOWEEN DISPLAY

Officials from the U.S. Secret Service, West Hollywood city code enforcement and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are investigating whether a Halloween display showing a likeness of Palin hanging by a noose violates any laws. Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, said the department has fielded more than 60 calls complaining about the offensiveness of the effigy, but because there were no state laws violated, officials could not order that the display be taken down. Chad Michael Morrisette, who lives in the house, said the decorations also feature a likeness of McCain surrounded by decorative flames in the chimney, along with more typical Halloween items, such as skeletons and spider webs.

MCCAIN GETS JOE'S ENDORSEMENT

Joe the Plumber endorsed McCain for president. In a rally at a flag store on Tuesday, Samuel J. Wurzelbacher said he feared that Obama would turn the U.S. into a socialist nation. Fame brought media scrutiny to Wurzelbacher, who turned out to be an unlicensed plumber with unpaid back taxes.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS DEFEND MURTHA

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has purchased TV ads in an 11th-hour bid to defend Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, one of their most powerful members, against an unexpectedly intense reelection challenge. The National Republican Congressional Committee will spend $84,000 on an ad that quotes Murtha's recent remarks calling his district racist -- as well as past statements about U.S. military personnel killing innocent civilians in Iraq -- and ends with the word, "Enough."

POLL: OBAMA LEADS IN OHIO, FLORIDA

Obama is leading McCain in two battleground states, Florida and Ohio, where voters have more confidence in his ability to handle the troubled economy, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found. In Florida, a state that was considered a likely win for Republicans not long ago, McCain is trailing, 50 to 43 percent. Ohio voters trust Obama more than McCain to make the right decisions about the economy, 50 percent to 38 percent, the poll said.

FLORIDA EXTENDS EARLY-VOTING HOURS

Citing record turnout, Gov. Charlie Crist extended early-voting hours to alleviate the unprecedented lines that have kept Floridians waiting for hours before they can cast ballots. The governor's executive order directed county elections supervisors to open sites from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday and to extend hours over the final weekend before Tuesday's election.

NEWS SERVICES