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RALEIGH (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama is sharpening his tone against John McCain, accusing his Republican rival of sinking low by accusing him of being a socialist based on his tax plan.

Rallying a crowd Wednesday in North Carolina, the Democratic presidential contender said McCain will soon "be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten."

Obama also tried to turn around McCain's reliance on the argument of helping "Joe the Plumber." He's the Ohio man who gained national attention when Obama told him during a campaign stop that he wanted to "spread the wealth around."

Obama said people will be worse off under a McCain presidency whether they are "Suzy the student, or Nancy the nurse, or Tina the teacher, or Carl the construction worker."

The Illinois senator told thousands of supporters at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh that his campaign is less than a week away from turning the page on Republican policies, such as those held by rival candidate John McCain.

A new Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday shows Obama and McCain about even with a week before Election Day.

Both candidates are pressing hard to win the state's 15 electoral votes. Obama's visit Wednesday is his seventh visit to the state. His wife Michelle is campaigning in Rocky Mount and Fayetteville, where McCain held a rally Tuesday.