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Obama, McCain battle over taxes, economy
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-08 11:27 Obama has solidified his national lead in polls ahead of the election and gained an edge in crucial battleground states in recent weeks as the Wall Street crisis focused attention on the economy, an area where polls show voters prefer the Illinois senator's leadership.
The economic turmoil continued on Tuesday, with stocks tumbling for the second consecutive day in a sign the $700 billion bailout of US financial institutions did not ease market concerns about the economy. Asked about a possible Treasury secretary under their administrations, both candidates mentioned Omaha's legendary investor Warren Buffett, a supporter of Obama. The two candidates also clashed sharply in the final third of the debate over foreign policy, particularly the Iraq war. Obama was an early critic of the war, while McCain has been a staunch supporter and urged the "surge" strategy to increase US troops. "Senator Obama would have brought our troops home in defeat. I will bring them home in victory and in honor," McCain said. Obama said the focus on Iraq had distracted the United States from the threat in Afghanistan, and he defended under attack from McCain his willingness to strike against terrorists in Pakistan without approval from Islamabad. "We have fundamental differences about the use of military power," McCain said. Polls judged Obama the winner of the first debate two weeks ago, but Tuesday's debate was conducted in a looser town hall format where questions were asked by the audience, a favorite setting for McCain and a staple of his campaigns in the battle for the party nomination this year and in 2000. About 100 undecided Nashville voters identified by the Gallup polling company posed the questions. The candidates talked directly to the audience and were free to roam the stage. With only four weeks to go until the election, the two candidates will meet for one final debate on October 15. |
