Obama unveils plans for education reform

This from USA Today:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama is attacking Republican presidential rival John McCain about his track record on improving education, focusing on a key voter concern as he looked to pick up support of independent voters in a crucial swing state and regain the lead in the polls.

Obama's push into a subject Republicans have typically focused on reflects how the first-term Illinois senator is trying to recapture some of the momentum in a White House race where McCain has seen support increase largely because of his choice of running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

In the aftermath of both parties' national conventions, polls show McCain with a small lead or about even with Obama, who has surrendered what had been his minimal advantage. That effectively resets an already extended campaign with eight weeks remaining until election day on Nov. 4.

Obama planned on Tuesday to move in on a Republican theme, vowing to double federal funding for privately run charter schools and accusing opponent John McCain of having done nothing in his long Senate tenure to improve education for American students.

Charter schools, so-called because they are privately run, are a campaign issue because they generally conflict philosophically with the long U.S. tradition of providing federal education funding to public schools that are run by local governments...