RENO, Nev. - Scrambling to win the West, Democrat Barack Obama mocked John McCain on Saturday for trying to distance himself from fellow Republican President Bush. McCain touted his Western ties and countered that Obama is a tax-and-spend threat to the nation.

   Ten days before the election, both candidates were targeting the same trio of states — Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. Any of them could help shape who wins the presidency.

   The flurry of appearances by Obama and McCain likely represent the last time in a long, testy campaign that the toss-up territory of the West will get this much attention. Electoral prizes of the East Coast, like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, will soon take command.