In Zanesville, Ohio, on Monday, Republican presidential nominee John McCain tried to distance himself from unpopular President George W. Bush, while Democrat Barack Obama attempted to link them together during a day of intense campaigning. McCain stated on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he has stood up against his party, including President Bush, and has the scars to prove it, despite sharing a common philosophy with the Republican Party. Obama responded to McCain's statement during a speech in Denver by highlighting their similarities with George Bush. Obama addressed a crowd of over 100,000 supporters in a downtown Denver park, vowing not to allow George Bush to pass the torch to John McCain. Despite trailing in the polls, McCain expressed confidence in his campaign, attributing a sense of tightening race just over a week before the Nov. 4 election. McCain also reflected on the 41st anniversary of being shot down in Vietnam and spending years as a prisoner of war, emphasizing his dedication to fighting for the country. Obama and his campaign have consistently tried to link McCain with Bush, pointing out that McCain has supported the president's policies 90 percent of the time. Despite having ample campaign funds, the Obama team released a TV ad showing McCain alongside Bush, claiming that McCain is lacking in new ideas and is disconnected from the people. McCain has stated that he respects Bush but has disagreed with him on various important issues, such as government spending, Iraq strategy, and climate change. McCain believes that the Bush-McCain approach has led the country in the wrong direction for the past eight years and does not want another four years to be the same. Obama declared his intention to run for president of the United States, stating that it was time for change in Washington. He is currently ahead of McCain in national opinion polls and in many battleground states, including Iowa, where a recent poll showed him leading by a significant margin. However, a different poll released on Sunday indicated that the race between Obama and McCain was getting closer overall. In this poll, Obama was ahead of McCain among likely U.S. voters by a smaller margin. The Illinois senator's lead in the poll has decreased over the past three days, dropping from a high of 12 points on Thursday. Some Republicans are concerned about McCain's campaign strategy, which they feel has been inconsistent and could jeopardize the party's chances of retaining the White House and congressional seats. McCain remains optimistic, stating that they have closed the gap in the last week and could potentially be leading on Election Night if the trend continues. He believes there is strong intensity and passion among supporters, making the campaign very competitive, and he is proud of the effort he has put in. McCain expressed strong support for his vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin, despite the criticism she has faced. While she has energized the Republican base, many Americans question her readiness to be president. Initially seen as a positive addition to his campaign, Palin has since been subject to intense scrutiny and some conservatives doubt her experience for the role of vice president. McCain stands by Palin, praising her rather than defending her. McCain praised Palin and defended her actions, stating that she does not need any defense. He addressed questions about the Republican National Committee's purchase of $150,000 in clothes for Palin and her family by explaining that a third of the clothes had been returned and the rest would be donated to charity. McCain also emphasized Palin's frugal lifestyle and commended her for igniting crowds and conducting herself admirably.