Obama talks economy in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — White House hopeful Barack Obama unveiled a new speech for Indiana voters today, talking in lofty terms about how he’d improve the economy, and in plainer terms about why he thinks rival Hillary Clinton’s plans would not.
“Some of you might have seen that Sen. Clinton’s spending a lot of money on a television ad that attacks me for not supporting her and John McCain’s idea of a gas tax holiday for the summer,” Obama told the crowd at Lawrence North High School. “Now, this is an idea that will save you — altogether — half a tank of gas. That’s thirty cents a day. For three months. That’s if the oil companies don’t simply jack up their price to fill the gap, as they’ve done when this was tried before. Does anyone here really trust the oil companies to give you the savings when they could just pocket the money themselves?
(AP)
ÒIt's a shell game. Literally. In a moment of candor, her advisors actually admitted that it wouldn't have much of an effect on gas prices. But, they said, it's a great political issue for Sen. Clinton. So this is not about getting you through the summer, it's about getting elected.Ó
Obama fans said after the speech they loved most of what he had to say, but some said they wish he would stick to talking positive about himself instead of taking shots at Clinton.
ÒThey're doing all McCain's dirty work for him, which is why I'm sorry he mentioned Hillary,Ó said History teacher John Diercks, 59. ÒMost of the people here are his supporters, so he didn't need to attack her.Ó
ÒI was surprised how much he talked about Clinton,Ó Joey Fox, 19, agreed. ÒI really think he should stick to talking about himself. He doesn't need to talk about anybody else.Ó
Fox is a registered Republican deciding whether to vote for John McCain Tuesday or pull a Democratic ballot and vote for Obama because he is so inspired.
ÒAs a Republican, my attraction to him is he's not a typical liberal Democrat,Ó Fox said. ÒI wish the Republicans had a Barack Obama.Ó
Diercks said he agreed with everything Obama said about Clinton's proposal for a summer gas tax holiday and that was what convinced him to support Obama.
ÒHillary's gas tax really turned me off because it's just such pandering,Ó Diercks said.
Even Obama's fans here are only predicting a close victory for him on Tuesday. Polls show that while Obama still enjoys a lead over Clinton in North Carolina, he is trailing her or even with her here. And not enough of the Democratic electorate lives in northwest Indiana -- where Obama enjoys something of a home-court advantage -- to assure him of victory.
ÒI think it's going to be very close,Ó said Keith Cheney, who like Obama, is a very distant relative and non-fan of Vice President Dick Cheney. ÒI think those comments from his pastor are going to make the margin smaller than it would otherwise have been. But I think he'll win.Ó
Clinton was campaigning in North Carolina but is due back in Indiana tonight for an event with John Cougar Mellencamp, who, like the state, is divided between Obama and Clinton. He is performing for both candidates.