(Ebru News/AP) Republican John McCain is beginning to court voters with his military legacy, looking to define himself as the candidate who has national security experience lacking in his Democratic rivals. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, were still consumed in an increasingly bruising fight to win the Democratic nomination..

Speaking in Meridian, Mississippi on Monday, McCain portrayed himself as a patriot who was born into a family of American warriors devoted to honor, courage and duty.

John McCain, Republican Presidential Hopeful
"I am the son and grandson of admirals. My grandfather was an aviator, my father a submariner. They were my first heroes and their respect for me has been one of the most lasting ambitions of my life.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton continues to hammer the Bush Administration on the economy as she spoke to a group of voters at a Pennsylvania diner.

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Presidential Hopeful
"The economy is not working for people. It is not producing new good jobs for people, and yet, ten years ago, we were doing it. So it's not like we don't know how to do it, it's just that we haven't had good leadership with real commitment to a middle class economic future."

For his part, Obama said on Monday the tough campaign was frustrating, but healthy.

Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential Hopeful
"First of all, I think it's great that Senator Clinton's supporters are as passionate about her as my supporters are passionate about me, because what that's done is everybody has got passionate, everybody is registering to vote, we have seen huge voter increases all across the country and I am convinced that Democrats are going to be unified as soon as we settle on a nominee, so don't worry about that.."