US Presidential Contenders Focus on Domestic Issues | Voice of America - English
Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama focused on economic concerns Tuesday. Obama was shifting his attention to domestic issues after his trip to the Middle East and Europe last week. McCain meanwhile took some encouragement from the latest public opinion poll, which shows him leading Obama.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the 2008 presidential campaign from Washington.
Thepolls have long indicated that voters are worried about the economythis year, and both major party presidential contenders are expected tofocus on economic issues all this week. Republican candidateMcCain  campaigned in Nevada and tried to reassure homeowners worriedabout high mortgage payments and the prospect of losing their homes. "We have got to help people remain in their homes. And it has hitNevada as much as any state in America. People are struggling to stayin their homes," he said. McCain prefers town meeting-type forums where he answers questions from voters, including a young girl at the event in Nevada. "If you were president, would you raise our taxes," she asked. "No. I think the worst thing that could happen to America in these verytough economic times is to raise someone's taxes," he replied. "I will not do it." McCainhas vowed to keep President Bush's tax cuts in place, while DemocratBarack Obama opposes tax cuts for the wealthy and has promised to cuttaxes for middle income Americans. Obama spent Tuesday talkingabout the housing and mortgage problems with Treasury Secretary HenryPaulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Obama also heldprivate talks with Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani. Obama'srefocus on domestic economic issues comes after last week'sinternational trip to the Middle East and Europe designed to bolsterpublic confidence in his ability to lead U.S. foreign policy and becommander in chief of the armed forces. Both Obama and McCain are also going through the largely private process of picking a vice presidential running mate. Obamatold NBC's that he is looking for someone who canadvance an agenda of changing Washington politics. "I am going to wantsomebody who shares a vision of the country where we need to go. Thatwe have got to fundamentally change not only our policies, but how ourpolitics works, how business is done in Washington," he said. reports that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is among those under consideration. Kainesaid it was flattering to be mentioned but said he would not talk abouthis conversations with the Obama campaign. "It is a very personalchoice, and the only person who really knows the answer to thatquestion is Senator Obama. He has to get briefed on everybody and hehas to make that choice on his own," he said. Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana and Joe Biden of Delaware are also being considered, according to the . JohnMcCain is reportedly considering a list that includes formerMassachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty andformer Ohio Congressman Rob Portman, among others. McCain alsogot some encouragement in the latest Gallup poll. McCainleads Obama by a margin of 47 to 44 percent, a departure from mostrecent polls that have given Obama a lead of anywhere from two to ninepoints.