Two candidates, two styles

Phoenix - They both aspire to win the White House in November, but Barack Obama and John McCain could not be more different in how they intend to get there.

With four months to go before Americans choose a new president, the two candidates are honing their styles and expanding their campaign organisations to compete in what is finally a two-person race.

That's where the similarities end.

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, excels at big events that draw thousands of people, using oratorical skills that are praised by political friends and foes alike.

The lanky 46-year-old, who would be the first black US president, projects a celebrity aura on the road, connects easily with listeners, and gives in to a tendency to ramble when answering questions.

"Obama is an ebullient campaigner, who genuinely enjoys people. He has an ease and connection that is rare," said his top strategist, David Axelrod.

"He is comfortable in any room, with any group, anywhere, and that is a great quality in a candidate. He also is a passionate, powerful speaker, who can move a crowd."

Compare that with Republican McCain, the slim, silver-haired senator from Arizona, who is comfortable with a joke but awkward with a TelePrompTer, making his big speeches a magnet for criticism from pundits and party activists.

The 71-year-old former fighter pilot, who would be the oldest US president to enter office, thrives in smaller venues and loves the give-and-take exchanges with reporters on his bus or with participants at regular town-hall meetings.

Compelling personal stories

"McCain is a natural campaigner - dealing with average Americans, people who show up on the campaign trail. Whether they're friendly or not, he thrives on it, he's good at it," said senior adviser Charlie Black.

"You can't script this guy if you tried," said Carly Fiorina, a top economic adviser. "He loves more than anything else the genuine, authentic interaction with the American citizen."

The stylistic differences do not boil down only to speech-making and crowd-handling. Both candidates have compelling personal stories, but they use them differently.

Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, speaks often of growing up on food stamps, while McCain, who spent more than five years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp, shies away from talking about his time as a POW.

The candidates' styles are largely manifested in their campaign structures.

Obama raises funds as successfully as he fills stadiums and has already spent money on advertising in several key battleground states. He has a staff that reportedly numbers more than 1 000 and a network of campaign offices nationwide that are well established after the drawn-out Democratic primary.

"Obama, ironically for a reform candidate, has basically built a huge (political) machine," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, noting the Illinois senator did not need to adjust much for the general election.

"The structure of the campaign is pretty much a continuation of the primary season," he said.

A lot can change by November

That organisation is also evident on the campaign trail. Events are well orchestrated and the candidate sticks largely to the message of the day.

McCain, on the other hand, has fewer dollars and fewer people, though fund-raising is improving and staff hires are increasing. The campaign has grown to 250-300 paid workers and a shake-up last week put Steve Schmidt, who has worked for President George W Bush and California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger, in charge of day-to-day operations.

"This is a natural evolution of our campaign as ... we become more and more of a nationwide campaign with increased staff and increased responsibilities," McCain said.

That change may improve overall organization, which is not a strength. McCain often refers to his "well-oiled machine" after a slip, like when the travelling press corps was left behind at a campaign event or when the senator wanted, in vain, to offer the visiting Iraqi foreign minister a cup of coffee.

McCain invited Obama to hold several free-flowing debates in a joint town meeting format but Obama counter-offered to just two meetings. This prompted some analysts to say Obama was likely wary of a format that played to McCain's strengths.

Both men have areas where they can improve. McCain is working on his oratory, while his staff sees a weakness in Obama's performance in less-scripted environments.

Obama, who last week held two news conferences in one day to clarify his position on Iraq, said he was learning from his mistakes and would be a better communicator going forward.

Both candidates have four months to make their case. And though Obama is ahead in most polls, a lot can change by November.

- Reuters