Obama sees opening on healthcare

It's becoming clear where Barack Obama's camp believes Thursday night's vice presidential debate left a soft spot: healthcare.

Its first statement after the debate focused on the issue, which ranks as one of the most important for voters, but has been put somewhat on the back burner with the economic turmoil.

“Tonight, the American people heard the disturbing truth about John McCain’s health care plan: that while he would offer tax credits to help families pay for insurance, he would pay for them by taxing health care benefits for the first time in history. The McCain health care tax would come directly out of your pockets, but the tax credit would go directly to the insurance companies. It’s an old Washington bait and switch: he gives you a tax credit with one hand, but raises your taxes with the other. Barack Obama’s health care plan will cut costs, lower premiums for the average family by as much as $2,500, and provide affordable, accessible health insurance for every American,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

And this morning, Obama's camp quickly followed up with a new TV ad that the campaign said will begin airing today on national cable.

"What she said," it says on screen.

"He's proposing a $5,000 tax credit for families so that they can get out there and they can purchase their own healthcare coverage," McCain's running mate Sarah Palin is shown saying.

"What she didn't say," it says on screen.

The spot then shows Obama's running mate Joe Biden firing back: "Do you know how John McCain pays for his $5,000 tax credit? He taxes as income every one of you out there, every one of you listening who has a healthcare plan through your employer.

"Taxing health benefits for the first time ever," it says on screen.

"Taxing your healthcare benefit. I call that the 'ultimate Bridge to Nowhere,' Biden added, referring to the infamous bridge to a small island in Alaska that McCain has railed against and that Palin supported until she became governor.

"The McCain health tax: What they can’t explain," it says on screen.

At issue is McCain's proposal to offer a $2,500 tax credit for individuals and $5,000 for families to make healthcare more affordable. The tax credit, however, would be offset because workers would no longer be able to exclude the value of insurance coverage paid by their employers from their taxes.

The McCain campaign said the ad is "dishonest and false," and accused Biden of asserting a "blatant falsehood."

“The reality is that in a debate about who is more qualified, capable and motivated to defend working class families, Senator Biden lost to Governor Sarah Palin. Oddly, instead of shying away from an outright lie told by Joe Biden last night, the Obama campaign appears willing to double-down on his reckless dishonestly. It’s a lie for the Obama campaign to say John McCain’s health care plan taxes health care, when the McCain plan clearly provides the equivalent tax break for every American. Whether Barack Obama and his running mate are voting in favor of higher taxes on Americans making just $42,000 or telling bald faced lies, Americans know failed leadership when they see it,” McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

This afternoon, Obama released a second healthcare ad, which it said began airing earlier this week in battleground states.

The announcer says of McCain's tax credit: McCain’s own website said it goes straight to the insurance companies, not to you. Leaving you on your own to pay McCain’s health insurance tax.

"Taxing healthcare instead of fixing it," the announcer concludes. "We can’t afford John McCain."