Battle waged in Ohio
Obama, McCain fight over healing the economy
CANTON, Ohio — Fading in the polls, John McCain fought Barack Obama for support in economically hard-hit Ohio on Monday, each man pledging to right the economy and turn the page on the Bush era in a state with an impressive record for picking presidents.
Eight days from the election, however, Republicans looked and sounded increasingly like a party anticipating defeat, and possibly a substantial one.
McCain betrayed no such pessimism, assailing Obama as "the most liberal person ever to run for the presidency" and warning that Democrats would tax and spend the nation deeper into recession if they win the White House and keep control of Congress.
Referring to Obama, he said, "We both disagree with President Bush on economic policy. The difference is that he thinks taxes have been too low, and I think that spending has been too high."
Obama, running to become the nation's first black president, countered that when it comes to the economy, "John McCain has stood with this president every step of the way."
He added, "The question in this election is not 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?' We know the answer to that. The real question is, 'Will this country be better off four years from now?'"
The polls suggest the country is leaning toward an Obama presidency. The Illinois senator runs ahead in national surveys. He also holds an advantage in several polls measuring sentiment in states that voted for Bush four years ago, as well as at least one, Virginia, that last voted for a Democrat four decades ago.
In a fresh show of GOP concern, officials inside both parties said the Republican National Committee was moving into Montana with a television campaign for the first time this year. The state had been presumed safe for McCain, and RNC advertising has generally run in Republican-leaning states where he is in trouble.
The candidates' travel plans underscored the Electoral College math.
With scarcely a week remaining, McCain remained largely pinned down in traditionally Republican states, trying to eke out a majority.
By contrast, Obama's afternoon stop in Pittsburgh marked the first time in more than a week that he had bothered to visit a state that Democrat John Kerry won four years ago.
He has spent recent campaign time in "red" states — Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio — as he reaches for a sizable triumph.
Ohio was Monday's battleground, with McCain in Cleveland and Dayton while Obama was in Canton.
Ohio has voted with the winner each time since 1964, and Bush's victory there sealed his second White House term four years ago. But the state turned Democratic two years ago when Ted Strickland was elected governor and Sherrod Brown unseated a Republican incumbent to win his Senate seat.
Now public and private polls rate Obama the favorite, and dreary monthly jobless statistics show a statewide economy in trouble. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state has lost 92,000 jobs since February, and Ohio's unemployment, 7.2 percent of its work force, is well above the national rate of 6.1 percent.
McCain met with economic advisers in the morning and then said he had plans to rejuvenate the economy.
"To do this, we need pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policies, not pro-government spending programs paid for with higher taxes," he said.
Obama responded a short while later with what aides said was the summation of his long quest for the White House.
"We've tried it John McCain's way. We've tried it George Bush's way. Deep down, Senator McCain knows that, which is why his campaign said that 'if we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose.' "
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by ballachulish on October 28, 2008 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Considering half of freakin' Ohio lives in Dorchester County, who's left to vote?
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 28, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL ballachulish. Funny you say that, I'v been trying to convince family I have in Ohio to move here. If you know anything about the economy there-you'd know why they all leave! LOL
Ive posted this before but the O'Bama people are prectically stalking people in Ohio. Door knocking every night,calling 3 times a day...screw that.
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coolfreaknbeans, come on. All politicians do that. Walk around neighborhoods talking to ppl so that they can be elected. Should Obama just sit around and "hope" he did enough to get elected. What would you rather him do? He's running a smart campaign and if you don't like him, don't vote for him. I can't wait for this election to be over with so all these signs can be taken down all over town. What an eyesore. As far as the Ohio comment goes their ballachulish, if I was you I wouldn't complain. People moving here has changed the economic state that your county lives in. Your schools are getting better with more teachers wanting to come down here to teach, people moving in and creating more of a tax base, new schools being created to educate our young, etc, etc, etc. Unless you like living in a single wide, sitting on your front porch, shotgun in hand, dog by your side, spit toon next to your feet watching hee haw on tv, then maybe you should just drop the talk about people moving down here from Ohio.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 28, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually in Canton she hasn't received one single McCain call/visit. She is a democrat(doesnt like O'Bama though)and said it's out of control. I wasnt stretching the truth. A minimum of 3 calls per day!)(as well as multiple home visits a week) As I posted the other day- someone also keeps calling asking for our 3 yr old neice(who doesnt even live with her)saying she's registered to vote! By the way I agree with spreading your message if your running for office. But canvassing the same neighborhood and calling the same houses day after day? I think we live in a wonderful area(not perfect) and encourage everyone to move here. Funny you mention teachers coming here...my sister in law is a teacher who would like to move here.
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane do you really believe the United States of America, it's congress, it's people are so naive and stupid that we let a "non us citizen" run for president? Wow. You must also believe Elvis is alive, the gov't blew up the WTC, the gov't took flight 93 out of the air, etc etc etc. If you don't like Obama, for any reason, don't vote for him. Stop with the propaganda. Is he Muslim? Is he a ist? Does he not like the USA? Do you know what the President of the USA makes as a salary? It isn't enough to have to listen to stupid comments and false accusations from small minded individuals, that is for sure. So he must be running because he cares enough to do so. Same as McCain, even though I am not a McCain supporter this time around. I was back in 2000. McCain really turned me off with the mud slinging, the name calling, him trying to ruin Obama's name and trying to tell the people of the USA that he is a ist or at least he hangs out with known ists. How about we deal with the issues at hand. The economy, the Iraq war, Health care. If McCain does not agree with the ideas of Obama, so be it. Say that but don't try to belittle your opponent with garbage. At least with Obama, he has said he agrees with some of the ideas of McCain. Never have I heard out of McCains mouth that Obama had a good idea. He keeps wanting to say "spread the wealth." What the hell do we do now? We spread the wealth. Medicaid, Medicare, Unemployment benefits, etc, etc. All Obama wants to do is cut the taxes on the people who need the most help right now and tax the people who can afford to pay more. Why should the wealthy keep getting rich of the middle to low class people. Check those facts out, the difference in the past 8 years between the wealthy and the poor. the percentage has increased. Is that fair to you? We keep giving the big companies tax breaks but where do they pass that on to the consumer? The gas guys didn't, did they? How can I go to Georgetown and pay 2.15 for gas but here in the low county area pay 2.45 or higher? Oh that's right, there not passing on to the people like they should or does Georgetown have their own refinaries that I am unaware of.Disagree on the topics, not your personal beliefs and try to scare the people into not voting for a "black man", a % ist", a "muslim", etc, etc. I didn't care for Hilary doing it either. We will see on Nov 4 who the American people vote for and want in control of the US.
.
Posted by ballachulish on October 28, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JB,
Sorry, I went to public school in SC, and have had no problems academically or financially (full academic scholarship up Nawth).
If the "2nd March to the Sea" reversed itself I would be ecstatic, never to hear an Ohio accent for the rest of my days.
All the carpetbaggers have given the low country are horrible manners, pollution, traffic and overdevelopement.
C'Beans,
no mas no mas no Buckeyes!
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Balls, are you serious? You really believe there are no problems with your schools? What district did you go to? Also I am not just talking about the lowcountry here. I know of many good teachers and schools. I also believe the student has to want to learn and the parents must be acountable to make sure there kids are also doing their part. Horrible manners? Are you kidding me? Are you saying northerners are just brought up with poor social skills and never taught how to be polite? Good lord! As far as pollution goes, you don't even know what pollution is. Go to a big city, industrial areas and see what it is. Hopefully we can keep that from happening here as I don't want to see it get that way like it was in Cleveland. We had to have our cars tested on a bi yearly rate to make sure they passed emission standards. I can not believe some of the vehicles I see on the roadway here. Over development can be a problem if not done right, the road structures are not in place, the schools are not ready, etc, etc. Ohio is a beautiful place to live. Great for families. We would never tell anyone from SC to not move there if they so choose to do. So who has the poor manners Mr Bean. Also not sure what accent you speak of, since it is the south that has the accent but one that I love. I don't see to many movies, tv shows, presidential debates where the people say yall, bodreau ( how ever you spell it LOL), stuff like that. I catch myself saying it now and I really don't mind it. Kinda catchy.
Posted by SpiderJohn on October 28, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cut & Paste Jane is at it again!
SHUT UP AND VOTE PEOPLE!
As a political junkie I cannot believe I am saying this.....but I will be so happy when it is Nov. 5th!
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 28, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JasonBrown- We are very blessed here when it comes to pollution. You are so right. I had to move away for a short while to VA.(in Williamsburg). I woke up one day and the air looked thick and there was a weird haze. I kinda started to freak out.(there is a nearby nuke plant lol)I asked a guy at the bank what it was. He told me it was "just" pollution.(several other people said the same). Granted it didnt happen often,but still it made me so happy to call SC home.
Posted by ballachulish on October 28, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JB,
It comes down to what Chas. was like before and after. If we hadn't been invaded by people with different manners and manner of speaking (yes, you do have an accent, and it's like nails on a chalkboard), we might be a little bit more genial and accomodating towards the Ohioans.
But, y'all arrived like the plague, complaining and whining about how backwards Chas. is, and how great Ohio is (then why didn't you stay?) and it's a bit offputting.
Anyone who studied SC history in elementary school was taught that Ohio was the "Great Satan" of the day, I expect a plague of Missourians, wouldn't have been as much of a burden.
Posted by gneubeck on October 28, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Manchurian candidate becomes a reality. In perhaps the greatest irony in American history an individual who: because of numerous long-term subversive associations, and his immersion in seditious anti-American diatribe; admitted heavy drug use; and, failure to produce a certifiable birth certificate -COULD NOT PASS a basic FBI background check for an initial security clearance, is considered to be a serious contender for the Presidency of the United States! How is it possible that a man who is widely recognized as the least experienced; and, most radical far-left extremist ever nominated by a major political party could beguile so many simply because, while anchored to a teleprompter, he's a SLICK TALKER? A man who, was a principal architect of the mortgage meltdown; and, an individual who labored feverishly to engineer an American defeat in Iraq. In perhaps the ONLY forthright moment of his extended campaign, Barack "ACORN" Obama, while being interviewed on ABC, lamented the dispersions frequently cast against: "MY MUSLIM FAITH". A comment Colin Powell followed-up with: "So what if he is a Muslim". Which poses THE REAL QUESTION: Why did Obama lie to the American people? The ascendancy of this charlatan, along with his characteristically angry, "Hate America" wife, Michelle Obama, to the Presidency would unquestionably mark the portending demise of our Constitutional Republic that so many have shed their precious blood to nurture and preserve. Greg Neubeck
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 28, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gneubeck Thats a point I have heavily discussed with my family.(several members have/have had secret or top secret clearances) They will question you extensively if your Grandmas last name sounds foreign.(I'm not kidding) Can you imagine trying to get through with the name Barack Hussein O'Bama? And with his associations? I'm telling you now he would NEVER get clearance in the armed services. Yet he could be president? They hold our men and women in the armed services to a higher standard than a candidate for president?!
Posted by SpiderJohn on October 28, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OOH OOH Jane can think for herself, but it is the stupid kool aid talk she always gives.
You will not change anyones mind at this point Jane, so........................................SHUT UP AND VOTE!
Posted by SpiderJohn on October 28, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jane you are feeble! I feel so sorry for you! What a sad lonely life you must lead!
I hear there are tons of "groups" you could join and find a man to rock your world. Then maybe you will calm down and get a less paranoid view of America and those blood thursty raping muslims!
Dang girl, you need a good bump and grind!!!!!!!!! Or you could always do it yourself, from what Newt says!
Posted by jk_newhard on October 28, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Folks - I hate to tell you, but Obama IS a natural born US citizen. He was born in Hawaii to a mom from Kansas. Can we please get over that nonsense?
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on October 28, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My post was not based on his citizenship. My views are based on his name,where he was born,where his family is from and his shady associates. He shouldnt even have secret clearance. Certainly not top secret.
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with jk. And again, who cares if he is muslim. Who cares if McCain is Christian. Where do either of those come into play while being a president? Well at least in my mind religion should never come into play. This country should not be led on any religious belief. If we do so are we not as bad as any other nation that does the same? Also, I am not an expert on Obama by any means, but do you really think he is a non citizen and you, from SC, have found that out but not the CIA, FBI, or any other orginazation. If you don't like him, don't vote for him. I'm sure if I had the time and energy, I could go back into McCains background and see some shady characters, associate him with some bad people, associate him with some bad legislature. But seeing that I am not rich, I have to work to support my family, I do not have that luxury. McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time. That's 9 out of 10 times. Republicans had control for the first 6 years of his presidency. What did he do to stop all this from happening? Nothing and guess what? McCain followed along 9 times out of 10. Now I know you die hard Republicans are gonna throw out there that look at the last two years now that Democrats have the majority, that the economy was doing great before two years ago when the Dems got control. Well for as long as I have been listening, people have said that it takes a few years for things to change. President Clinton left in 2000 and Bush took over. That means for the first 2-4 years, whatever Clinton had done in his presidential term, Bush was reaping the benefits. With the economy being what it was, unemployment being what it was, etc. Then when the Bush legislation started taking effect, uh-oh. Now the economy is going down, unemployment goes up. All that spending on a war which should never have been fought in the first place. Clinton had a surplus and now we are so deep in debt, who knows how we will ever get out. I know, let's throw more money we don't have at the problem and sit back and see how that works. I agree with some of my republican friends and say let those people who got in over there heads fail. The homeowner who bought the house he knew he couldn't afford hoping to make a quick buck on it. I only want to help the people who did the right thing but for some unforseen circumstance out of their control need our help. I am an American and think we should do more for our fellow neighbor. Oh btw, can someone please tell me what war we are in? And how is it considered winning when more of our guys die day in and out but Osama bid Laden is still running around?
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh also forgot to mention. I have been associated with some shady people in my life while growing up. Some, I guess, by choice and others just by being with other people that I knew and those people bringing them along. I would hope that you wouldn't label me as a ist, a bad person, etc. We all have done things that looking back we regret, wish we could change. Let's see what the next 4 years brings us. Really no chance for McCain to win unless something dramatic happens in the next 7 days. If in 4 years Obama has failed us, let's vote in the next president. And by god, please I don't want to hear Palin as the next republican candidate.
Posted by tc1 on October 28, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JasonBrown,
"Oh btw, can someone please tell me what war we are in? And how is it considered winning when more of our guys die day in and out but Osama bid Laden is still running around?"
Try this: We are at war with totally illogical, mindless fanatics who believe that with no exceptions WE Must DIE, every last one of us. The number of us they are able to personally murder will have a direct bearing on their status in paradise. They have clearly stated this many times as well as that there will be no compromise under any circumstances.
There is no "winning" as mankind has understood it in the past or percieves "winning" in the present. It is more like rats, roaches, termites and ants. History has shown you can't eliminate them but we know what happens if we ignore them.
Posted by JasonBrown on October 28, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We are at war in a country we don't belong in, that never asked for us to help out in. Also this war was suppose to be about finding weapons of mass destruction. Guess that doesn't count anymore does it. Iraq still does not want us there even now that we have freed them from Saddam. They have been fighting in that area since biblical times and do you honestly think the time we spend there will change that? History has shown us nothing. Iraq did not attack the U.S. Osama did. Where is he now? Who knows. Let me ask you one thing. Did the people of this country ask for help when we broke free of the British. Was it not just us who wanted freedom from their control. Did we not die to have this freedom. I think so. How about we leave it up to the people of Iraq to do the same for themselves. Who are we to go in and decide they need a democratic govt. Are we not as bad as they are for telling them that is what they need? I don't want to see anymore of our guys and gals dying for a loss cause. If we are to fight, then lets fight the real bad guys, not the people with the oil. As far as you go mr serialmooner, I think I must be one of the minions you are talking about. You go on believeing that McCain can win, that is your choice. Choose to deny the facts that are right in front of your face. We are not talking about one poll here. Every poll has Obama in the lead with a varying percentage. Keep denying the facts just like Bush, McCain, Palin, Etc. Blame it on someone else. They seem to do that well. Just look at the war, the economy, everything. Nothing is their fault. It's Carters, Clintons, Obama, Pelosi, Frank. Geez, the republicans do no wrong. AMAZING!
Posted by SpiderJohn on October 29, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mooner - I think I may know who you are!
The same worthless individual that got bumped for the same stupid statements!
Mooner has issues with free thinking! Mooner has issues with anyone picking on Jane! Mooner and Jane sittin' in a tree....K-I-S-S-I-N-G............
Please ask her out already, she needs a good boner!