COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — John McCain kicked off a campaign swing in two Western states Friday with a new warning that electing Barack Obama could create unchecked Democratic control in Washington.
Republican incumbents and challengers are facing stiff battles in numerous congressional races, including in Colorado. Democrats expect to pick up seats in both the House and Senate and may reach a veto-proof majority of 60 in the Senate.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, October 26, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 33 words Type of Material: Correction
McCain on the trail: An article in Saturday's Section A about John McCain's campaign in Colorado said Democrats could reach a "veto-proof" majority of 60 senators. It should have said a filibuster-proof majority.
"The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington," McCain told about 3,000 supporters in Denver's National Western Arena. "We've already seen a preview of their plans," added the four-term Arizona senator. "It's pretty simple and pretty familiar: tax and spend."
McCain took aim at Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Financial Services Committee. In an interview on CNBC, Frank called for an immediate increase in government spending to prime the economy, and "speaking personally," he said he would favor a surtax on America's wealthiest people to help taxpayers recover the cost of government bailouts.
"We should take him at his word," McCain declared. "And when he says that there are, quote, 'a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax,' it's safe to assume that means you."
McCain's latest appeal resonated with at least one swing voter in the crowd.
Richard McMeekin, who voted for Bill Clinton twice in the 1990s, said he probably would vote for McCain because he worried about one party dominating Capitol Hill and the White House.
"Congress is out of control," said McMeekin, a 60-year-old accountant from Parker, a Denver suburb. "They need to be reined in. I'm not sure McCain can do that. But I'm sure Obama can't."
Sen. Obama of Illinois took a 36-hour break from the campaign trail to visit his ailing grandmother, who helped raise him, in Hawaii. McCain didn't ease his attacks on his opponent, however.
"Sen. Obama is more interested in controlling wealth than in creating it, in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity," McCain said. "I am going to create wealth for all Americans, by creating opportunity for all Americans."
McCain again slammed Obama's plan to raise marginal income tax rates on the 5% of families who earn more than $250,000. The plan would reinstate the rates used during President Clinton's administration, but McCain called it a "massive new tax increase."
