Barack Obama, John McCain square off on economy
The presidential candidates focus on battleground states. McCain is in New Mexico, Obama is in Virginia.
Democrat Barack Obama and Republican presidential rival John McCain face off on different sides of the country today as they focus on economics in different battleground states.
McCain, whose campaign released an ad on taxes and spending, will visit La Cruces, N.M., for a town hall-style stop that will include the economy and energy issues. New Mexico's five electoral votes were won by Al Gore in 2000 and George Bush in 2004.
Obama, whose campaign released a new advertisement, will stress his economic policy in stops in the Virginia cities of Martinsville and Lynchburg. Democrats have targeted Virginia's 13 electoral votes.
With the party convention coming up in the next two weeks, most of the attention of political insiders has focused on the nominating fetes and the major unresolved issue: who will be the vice presidential candidates.
Campaigning in Virginia will probably increase speculation on Obama's vice presidential choice. One of the leading contenders is Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.
But the parties are also straightening out their speaking schedules. Republicans will listen to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has personally endorsed McCain, even though they differ on such issues as offshore oil drilling.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, will also speak at the GOP convention. He is a friend of McCain's and has often campaigned with the Arizona senator.
According to polls, the economy remains the No. 1 issue in the presidential campaign and both candidates have continually stressed their plans.
Speaking in Martinsville, Va., Obama sounded his traditional theme that a worsening economy means the American Dream of making things better for the next generation is slipping away.
In the Obama television ad, the campaign accuses McCain of targeting billions of dollars in tax cuts for special interests. Obama has called for steps to bolster the middle class and is in favor of some taxes on the wealthy.
In its advertisement, the McCain camp counters that Obama is proposing "massive new government spending," and that Obama is backing new taxes.
michael.muskal@latimes.com
