Nominees campaign in battleground states

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The two major-party U.S. presidential nominees and their running mates Monday were fanning out to key electoral battleground states.

Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, were campaigning together in Missouri while Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was in Michigan, CNN reported.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, meanwhile, was in Green Bay, Wis., a state that polls indicate is leaning toward the Democratic ticket. And one-time presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York was campaigning for Obama in Florida, considered a toss-up state.

The battleground state strategy was being pursued by both campaigns after several national polls indicated the U.S. presidential race was in a dead heat, the broadcaster reported.

CNN said Palin was originally set to campaign on her own, but because of the momentum she generated coming out of last week's Republican National Convention, the McCain campaign has moved to keep her teamed with the Arizona senator.