Obama starts to woo voters across Florida

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TAMPA, Fla. — Sen. Barack Obama, setting foot in the nation's biggest battleground state for his first campaign event since the fall,offered an olive branch to Florida voters whose Democratic primary results still hang in the balance and attacked presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain.

Even though Mr. McCain enjoys strong support in Florida, Mr. Obama has pulled ahead in national tracking polls. His advance further deflates his Democratic rival's argument that she is better positioned to beat the Republicans in the fall.

"It is good to be back. I know you've been holding down the fort," Mr. Obama told a boisterous crowd of about 15,000 at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa. The rally was his first public appearance in Florida since September, although he attended two fundraisers in November.

"I am here to report that my debt has been paid off and my faith in the American people has been vindicated because everywhere I go people are standing up and saying we're ready for change."

Florida Democrats overwhelmingly favored Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state's Jan. 29 contest, but she hasn't reaped the benefit as Mr. Obama has pulled within 64 delegates from laying claim to the party nomination with the June 3 primary finish line fast approaching. Because the state broke Democratic National Committee rules by holding its primary too early, voters will have to wait until May 31 to know whether their votes count.

Mr. Obama barely mentioned Mrs. Clinton but said she "has run an outstanding campaign and she deserves our admiration and our respect."

The senator from New York has promised to fight through the next three contests: Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.

In a 40-minute speech that was interrupted several times by cheering supporters, Mr. Obama focused on deflecting criticism from Mr. McCain, who has portrayed the senator from Illinois as too inexperienced to handle the job as president and commander in chief.

"The other side isn't trying to make this campaign about you; they're trying to make it about me," he said.

Mr. Obama repeatedly tried to link Mr. McCain with the Bush administration, saying, "We have a chance in November to bring an end to [Hurricane] Katrina incompetence" and the "failed economic policies of George W. Bush."