Jun 11, 2008 4:06 pm US/Eastern
McCain Stumps In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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John McCain speaks during the 2008 National Small Business Summit at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, June 10, 2008 in Washington DC.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate
John McCain held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia
and spoke one-on-one with
CBS 3.
Senator McCain told the crowd the
nation faces three substantial challenges right now: "reform, prosperity and
peace."
He spoke extensively about the
economy, including the high cost of oil, and told the crowd the only long-term
solution is to become energy independent.
"We can do it," McCain said.
"America is the center of innovation,
technological progress."
In a one-on-one interview, McCain
reiterated his plan to cut the federal gas tax as a way to ease the short-term
pain at the pump.
Democratic
presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has said oil companies will only raise
their prices, if the gas tax is cut.
On the economy, McCain also
lashed out at Obama's policies.
"You don't want to increase taxes
as Sen. Obama wants to do when you're in a time of economic difficulty – that's
the worst thing you can do," McCain said.
"Seems to me Sen. Obama is dusting off all the failed big government, big
spending policies of the 60s and 70s.
He
says I'm running for President Bush's third term; looks to me like he's running
for Jimmy Carter's second."
Some experts say McCain's plan
for the economy, featuring tax cuts, could cost $300 billion.
He says he'll pay for it with cuts in
spending.
"By cutting programs that are
absolutely unnecessary.
I can show you
$60 billion in pork barrel projects right away.
The $300 billion dollar farm bill, much of which was totally
unnecessary."
Hoping to capitalize on dissent
among working-class Democrats and independent voters in Pennsylvania, McCain
attempted to reach out to former supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Clinton won
the Pennsylvania primary by 10 points before
ending her candidacy last week.
"I know how to reach across the
aisle.
I will attract independents and
democrats," McCain said.
By the way
those supporters of Sen. Clinton, I welcome you here today."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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