SelectPlusObama, McCain Lock Horns Over EconomyObama, McCain Lock Horns Over EconomyThe Associated PressWith the faltering U.S. economy now the most important issue to voters, Barack Obama began a two-week campaign tour, hoping to highlight the fiscal differences between himself and rival John McCain. (June 10)Hoping to seize on record gas prices and a recent spike in unemployment rates....Barack Obama strolled into North Carolina Monday --- kicking off a two week campaign tour that will focus largely around the ailing U.S. economy.And, from the outset, Obama made it clear how he was hoping to frame the debate...SOT: Obama --- When we are fighting two wars, paying $4 a gallon for gas, etc...he's willing to give Exxon Mobile a tax break.The economy is an issue the Illinois Senator is trying to make his own --- rather than national security --- where polls show his Republican rival John McCain has the edge.Obama dubs McCain's economic plan a --- quote -- "full-throated endorsement of President George W. Bush's policies" --- something McCain has said is not true.SOT: McCain June 4th Fiscal Conf. --- "Whoever is elected president, there will be a new direction." But Obama isn't buying it....noting that McCain now wants to make permanent the Bush tax cuts he once called irresponsible.SOT: something has changed about john mccain because these same tax cuts are now his central economic policy.Blasting back, McCain says Obama's fiscal vision -- which calls for increased government spending -- would only further weaken the economy.SOT: McCain --- "One of the differences between Senator Obama and me is that he wants to continue this waste of your tax dollars on unnecessary pork-barrel projects."Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tried to calm fears of a likely recession while speaking at a conference last night--- Saying the danger of the country falling into a "substantial downturn" appears to have faded.But exactly how it will rebound has not.Presumptive NomineeRaleighSOT: ObamaSOT: McCainRecent polls show the economy is now the most important issue for voters --- surpassing even the Iraq war. ___ ___, The Associated Press.
