< Back to Front Page Text size – +

McCain in Florida, Obama in Indiana

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 23, 2008 09:54 AM


John McCain continued to hammer Democratic rival Barack Obama on taxes and national security today, campaigning in must-win Florida.

Giving what has become his stock stump speech, McCain asserted that Obama is more concerned about using taxes to "spread the wealth" than creating more wealth and more jobs. McCain is on a "Joe the plumber" bus tour across the Sunshine State, targeting blue-collar workers and small business owners.

Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor responded to McCain's remarks on taxes, “Last week Senator McCain called Obama’s tax cuts for working people ‘welfare.’ Today he’s claiming Senator Obama doesn’t do enough to help the unemployed. The only thing consistent about these attacks is how dishonest they are. All of Senator Obama’s tax credits only go to workers and they always have. The McCain campaign is once again trying to distort our plan to distract from the fact that Senator Obama’s tax plan will help the middle class while Senator McCain leaves out 100 million Americans.”

McCain was also incredulous of Obama's explanation for running mate Joe Biden predicting that enemies would test Obama early in his presidency -- that Biden engages in "rhetorical flourishes."

"Really? Really?" McCain said, chuckling. "That's another way of saying he accidentally delivered some straight talk to America."

"I have been tested, Senator Obama has not been tested. And it shows," McCain added.

Obama, meanwhile, is in Indianapolis for his last rally before leaving the campaign trail to see his ill grandmother. In advance of the event, his campaign released a radio ad from that Indiana native and small-town troubadour, John Mellencamp.

"I’ve seen a lot of small towns, but now I’m seeing small towns across America dying," the rock star says. "Folks losing their jobs and their homes… eight years of George Bush have really hurt. And - John McCain is just more of the same. Over the last eight years, thousands of Hoosier workers have seen their jobs sent out of this country. John McCain will keep giving tax breaks to companies shipping American jobs overseas…

"Barack Obama gets it, he sees the value in American made products and a strong American labor force; He’ll end tax breaks for companies shipping our jobs overseas and give a hard working family a break. This is John Mellencamp, and I’m proud to support Barack Obama, because whether you live in a small town or a big city, it’s time for a change."

Meanwhile, the latest Big Ten Battleground Poll shows Obama with significant leads in Indiana and seven other Midwestern states.

McCain led narrowly in Indiana last month, but now Obama leads 51 percent to 41 percent.

The two were tied in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but now Obama leads in Ohio 53 percent to 41 percent and in Pennsylvania 52 percent to 41 percent.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
» Back to Front Page
.

I hope to God McCain does not win this election. What a bigger mess we will have on our hands over the next 4 years if McCain and sideshow Sarah are elected into office.

Posted by MPM October 23, 08 12:20 PM
.

i m here to thanks god, 4 giveing us god sent from above, his son barackobama, to save america problels, and save life of americas, mess bush have giveing the world to day, with obama, america will come back again, my player is god will not allow jonmccain to win this election, i want god to protant barackobama 4 me pls god, i am happy to see what is happine in america to day, barackobama isgod sent to save the world, not only americas life, thanks u god bless america god bless obama,

Posted by samuel October 30, 08 08:40 AM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
see all Globe blogs

News from the Washington Bureau

Afghanistan wary of US plan to send more advisers

Afghan officials have begun to push back from the Obama administration's plans to send hundreds of advisers to the country, complaining the Americans are often overpaid, underqualified, and unfamiliar with the culture of the country. (Globe Staff, 2:15 a.m.)

Mass. keeps an eye on US bill’s funding ban

Massachusetts officials are closely monitoring an abortion funding ban in the sweeping health care legislation before Congress to make sure that it does not restrict women’s access to abortion coverage in the state. (Globe Staff, 11/11/09)

Survey raises new doubts on military’s ‘don’t ask’ policy

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration received more research yesterday to help make its case for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces. (Globe Staff, 11/10/09)

Lieberman’s threat of filibuster looms large

When a recent conversation among Senate centrists turned to insurance company antitrust concerns, Joe Lieberman boasted of his bona fides: As Connecticut attorney general in the 1980s, he sued the industry. (Globe Correspondent, 11/9/09)

Health care headache for House Democrats

WASHINGTON - Democratic House leaders scrambled to round up enough support yesterday for their sweeping health care overhaul, getting last-minute help from White House advisers on the eve of a historic vote scheduled for today. (Globe Staff, 11/7/09)

Patrick wraps up two-day visit to Washington

WASHINGTON - Governor Deval Patrick swept through Washington yesterday, wrapping up a two-day tour to advance the state’s interests in health care, economic development, and transportation - a trip that also let him showcase his access to the city’s most powerful Democrats, including President Obama. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Health care opponents intensify late attack

WASHINGTON - The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill. (Globe Staff, 11/6/09)

Public’s opinions of health care overhaul efforts have familiar ring

Americans’ opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Frank reconsiders legislation after worry raised on loopholes

House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Moderate Democrats fear shift to GOP

Democratic moderates who will determine the fate of much of President Obama’s domestic agenda heard an early warning from this week’s off-year elections: Congress had better do something about the economy, or sitting lawmakers will lose their jobs in 2010. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
archives