John McCain says 'no' to raising taxes
The Republican works to deflect Barack Obama's campaign suggestions that he had opened the door to a higher payroll tax to fund Social Security in recent interviews.
SPARKS, Nev. -- Republican John McCain today ruled out raising taxes if he is elected president, and rejected suggestions that he had flip-flopped on the issue.
In recent days, the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama has argued that McCain had originally opposed any tax increase, but had opened the door to a higher payroll tax to fund Social Security in recent interviews.
Speaking at a town hall-style stop here, McCain got his most enthusiastic response when a small girl in the audience asked if he would raises taxes. "No," he said simply, and the crowd roared.
"I think the worst thing that could happen to America in these very tough economic times is to raise someone's taxes," McCain added. "I won't do it."
Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, McCain said that Social Security funding needed help. "I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table," he said.
He went a step further in an interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week." Asked about payroll tax increases, McCain said: "There is nothing that's off the table. . . . I don't want tax increases. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table."
The Obama campaign issued several statements in recent days accusing McCain of changing his position on taxes.
For nearly 45 minutes, McCain fielded questions at a campaign stop here, devoting nearly as much time to bashing Washington as he did taking after Obama.
McCain faulted members of both parties for failing to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation, for coddling special interests and allowing federal spending to grow. Asserting his political independence in a state with a broad maverick streak, McCain drew strong applause with his repeated suggestions that Washington needs to change the way it does business.
One of the keys to the presidential race in Nevada could be what Latinos chose to do in November. Democrats today announced they have set aside $20 million to win the Latino vote, concentrating on four key states: Colorado, New Mexico, Florida and Nevada. Polls in the states, won by President Bush in 2004, show tight races.
Latinos represent an untapped demographic that Democrats believe they can claim. A shift in all four states would move 46 electoral votes from the GOP to the Democrats.
Though the effort will focus on the four states, the $20 million will be used in all 50, party officials said, to register and mobilize voters, buy advertisements and organize online.
