Senator John McCain in Waukesha, Wisconsin, 09 Oct 2008

Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain has urged his supporters to be respectful toward rival Barack Obama to control angry outbursts at McCain campaign events toward the Democratic nominee. 

Senator McCain told a crowd at a campaign event Friday in Minnesota that Obama is a decent person. McCain's campaign has raised questions in recent days about Obama's character and his fitness to be president. At some McCain campaign stops, audience members have railed angrily against Obama. 

Barack Obama addresses supporters in Ohio, 10 Oct 2008

Senator Obama has criticized McCain for engaging in the politics of anger and division at a time when the country needs to unite. Obama Fridaytold supporters in Ohio he offers the steady leadership needed to pull the country out of the economic crisis. 

For his part, McCain told voters in Wisconsin that as president he would "act quickly and decisively" to address the economic crisis. rest opt The McCain campaign Friday released a television ad accusing Obama of lying about his ties to William Ayers, who founded an anti-war group in the 1960's that carried out bomb attacks inside the United States. Ayers, now a college professor who lives in Obama's neighborhood in Chicago, served with Obama on two charity boards and hosted a reception for him in 1995. Obama has denounced Ayers' radical activities. 

Meanwhile, Alaska lawmakers released a report that said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin abused the power of her office as Alaska's governor by firing the state's public safety commissioner. The report said a family grudge was not the only reason for firing Walter Monegan, but it likely was a contributing factor. 

In other news, a new poll (by Reuters / C-Span / Zogby) has Obama with a five-point lead over McCain -- 48 percent to 43 percent among likely voters.