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In a 21-minute speech punctuated by chants of “U-S-A” from the crowd of 4,000 people in the La Crosse Center, McCain touted his plans to fix the flagging economy while lowering taxes.
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Republican presidential hopeful John McCain gives a thumbs up to the crowd gathered for his campaign rally Friday at the La Crosse Center’s South Hall.
PETER THOMSON photo
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Friday’s speech contained a new proposal to suspend rules that require the sale of stocks in retirement accounts.
Investors now must begin selling stocks in IRAs and 401Ks when they retire or in the year after they turn 70. McCain said they shouldn’t have to sell when the market is down.
The Dow Jones Industrial average has fallen nearly 28 percent since Sept. 15. The Dow closed down 126 points Friday, ending its worst week ever.
McCain vowed if elected to freeze spending “on all but the most vital functions of government” and to balance the budget by the end of his term.
He also mentioned a proposal to refinance mortgages for homeowners at risk of foreclosure, a plan that has drawn criticism both from the opposition and some conservatives.
The Arizona senator’s visit came just nine days after his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, held a rally in the street outside the center. Recent polls have shown McCain trailing Obama by 10 percentage points among likely Wisconsin voters.
McCain proclaimed himself the underdog and vowed to fight back.
“How many times, my friends, have the pundits written off the McCain campaign?” he asked. “We’re going to fool them again.”
McCain focused much of Friday’s speech on Obama.
He accused Obama of misleading voters on his health care plan, saying it would fine employers who do not offer health insurance. McCain called on Obama to say how big the fine would be.
CNN and factcheck.org have quibbled with that claim, noting Obama’s plan calls for taxing large businesses that don’t offer coverage.
“Obama’s plan does not force small businesses into government health care or penalize small businesses with fines,” Obama’s Wisconsin campaign spokesman Phil Walzak said in an e-mail. “The truth is Barack Obama is offering tax breaks to small businesses as an incentive to provide health care to employees.”
Obama’s plan does not specify what constitutes a “small business.” Walzak did not provide a definition.
McCain also suggested his opponent is not ready to lead the country.
“Which candidate’s experience in government and in life makes him a better candidate?” he asked. “At a time of trouble and danger, who will put our country first?”
The crowd responded by chanting “John-Mc-Cain.”
“He is beginning to go after Obama a little more than he had,” said University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor Joe Heim. “For the most part it’s policy stuff but there is a little personal stuff.”
It was McCain’s second stop in La Crosse this year and one of several rallies in Wisconsin this week. He had a Minnesota stop later Friday and was scheduled to campaign in Iowa today.
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa have become battlegrounds as both candidates vie for electoral votes.
J.R. Ross, editor at wispolitics.com, said McCain needs to win a traditionally Democratic state to insure against losing Republican-leaning states such as Colorado or Nevada. Wisconsin’s large population of conservative Democrats makes it a good target, Ross said.
Heim predicted La Crosse might see a surrogate from one or both campaigns if the race tightens up — possibly a vice presidential candidate.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Just Say No to McCain wrote on Oct 23, 2008 2:42 PM: