RENO — Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail Sunday after a week off in Hawaii and argued that he is the presidential candidate who can fix the nation's economic woes, repeatedly slamming John McCain as a continuation of the Bush administration.
"I've got news for John McCain: My plan's not going to bring about economic disaster. We already have economic disaster from John McCain's president, George W. Bush," the Democratic candidate said as the union-heavy crowd roared its approval.
Obama spoke to about 250 supporters seated in the sunny courtyard of Earl Wooster High School. The event was his first interaction with voters since his vacation, which allowed his Republican opponent to enjoy the spotlight alone when foreign policy issues dominated the news because of the conflict in the Caucasus.
Last week, McCain, a 26-year member of Congress, spoke frequently and forcefully about the Russian incursion into Georgia after that country launched an attack on a breakaway republic.
McCain advisors and supporters, including foreign policy advisor Randy Scheunemann and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), have accused Obama -- who initially called for restraint from both countries -- of being naive.
Obama did not mention the crisis in his Sunday appearance. He focused instead on the nation's economic woes, saying he hears from voters who worry their children and grandchildren will not have the same opportunities they had.
"They feel as though the American dream might be slipping away," he said. "That's what's at risk, and that's what this election is all about."
Obama pledged to cut taxes for 95% of Americans and reverse the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; invest $15 billion in research on alternative energy sources; and provide greater access to healthcare.
Brian Rogers, a McCain campaign spokesman, said it was the Las Vegas Review-Journal that concluded Obama's tax plan was a "recipe for economic disaster."
In an editorial, the newspaper knocked the Illinois senator's plan to raise the top tax rate, increase the capital gains tax and end tax breaks for the gas and oil industries and private equity firm managers.
In Reno, Obama criticized his Republican rival, saying the Arizona senator's claims of being a maverick were absurd.
