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Common ground for Democrats: Jab McCain

Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, campaigning in Pennsylvania, took aim yesterday at Republican John McCain, with Clinton talking about the economy and Obama focusing on the war in Iraq.

Barack Obama at a town-hall meeting at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre yesterday. He said John McCain's open-ended commitment to maintain a U.S. military presence in Iraq showed a lack of judgment.
Barack Obama at a town-hall meeting at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre yesterday. He said John McCain's open-ended commitment to maintain a U.S. military presence in Iraq showed a lack of judgment.Read moreSARAH J. GLOVER / Inquirer Staff Photographer

Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, campaigning in Pennsylvania, took aim yesterday at Republican John McCain, with Clinton talking about the economy and Obama focusing on the war in Iraq.

In a speech to the state AFL-CIO convention in Center City, Clinton accused the presumptive Republican nominee of proving every day that he does not know how to address the needs of the middle class.

"His plan for the economy is to extend George Bush's tax cuts for billionaires and give a $100 billion additional corporate tax cut," she said. "The Bush-McCain philosophy could not be clearer - it's the 'ownership society,' which really means, 'You're on your own.' "

Obama, speaking to a town-hall meeting in Wilkes-Barre, said McCain's open-ended commitment to maintain a U.S. military presence in Iraq showed a lack of judgment.

"Sen. McCain is saying I don't understand national security," Obama said, "but he is the one who wants to keep tens of thousands of United States troops in Iraq for as long as 100 years, even though this war has not made us safer."

Having permanent bases in Iraq, Obama said, "may make sense for George Bush and John McCain, but it is the wrong thing to do."

On Monday, McCain said the Illinois senator had "no experience or background" on national security issues and "does not understand . . . the fundamental elements of national security and warfare."

McCain has said U.S. troops might have to stay in Iraq long-term in the same way they have been in Germany and Japan since the end of World War II.

Blair Latoff, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, yesterday called on both Democrats to stop attacking McCain and for Clinton to "explain to voters in the Keystone State how she will pay for her massive spending proposals."

Two polls released yesterday show the Clinton-Obama race in the Pennsylvania primary tightening, with Clinton still in the lead three weeks before the April 22 primary.

One, by Rasmussen Reports, showed Clinton leading by five points, down from 10 in a similar survey taken a week earlier. The other, by Survey USA, had her up by 12 points. In a previous version, completed three weeks ago, her lead over Obama was 19.

For Obama, yesterday was Day 5 of his six-day bus tour and his first extended visit to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Clinton, whose father grew up in Scranton, has led in polls in that region, which is filled with the working-class and Catholic voters who have been key elements of her winning coalitions in other states.

But last week, Obama was endorsed by Sen. Bob Casey, the scion of a political dynasty with enduring popularity among those voters.

Yesterday afternoon, Obama traveled to Dunmore, six blocks from the Caseys' Scranton home. There, the candidate was introduced by the four Casey daughters, who reportedly lobbied their father on Obama's behalf.

(Sen. Casey was in Washington, voting on a housing bill.)

Clinton, in talking to the union gathering in Philadelphia, announced a plan to create three million jobs over 10 years through increased investments in the nation's infrastructure.

Her plan includes a $10 billion Emergency Repair Fund that would deal with the nation's most immediate needs, which include crumbling highways and bridges.

At one point in her speech, she could not resist a local reference as she dismissed any suggestion that she should drop out before the final primaries.

"Could you imagine if Rocky Balboa had gotten halfway up those Art Museum steps and said, 'Well I guess that's about far enough'?" she asked. "That's not the way it works. Let me tell you something: When it comes to finishing the fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit. . . ."

Clinton was introduced by Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

McEntee backed her contention - which Obama has challenged - that she opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement as first lady, even as her husband was pushing for its ratification. "Anybody who tries to hang it around her neck is hanging it around the wrong neck," he said.

Labor leaders contend that NAFTA has cost thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Earlier in the day, Clinton toured the William J. Donovan Co. in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia. The plant makes air ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems as well as other specialty-steel products.

The candidate seemed particularly interested in the handiwork of Bob Fugelo, 50, of King of Prussia, who was finishing a piece of mirrored steel to be used by one of the region's pharmaceutical companies.

"I have a lot of admiration for this kind of precision work," she told reporters.

Fugelo said he was impressed with her as well. He is a Republican.

Today, Obama concludes his statewide bus tour (which included a plane ride from Scranton to a Bryn Mawr fund-raiser last night) with an appearance before the AFL-CIO, a town-hall meeting at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, and a live appearance on MSNBC's Hardball show at West Chester University.

Clinton winds up her three-day Pennsylvania swing in Pittsburgh with what is billed as an economic summit.

Clinton's April Surprise

Hillary Rodham Clinton had a somber look on her face yesterday as she took the lectern for a news conference in Philadelphia.

"This has been a very hard-fought race," she said. "We clearly need to do something so that our party and our people can make the right decision. So, I have a proposal."

It sounded as though real news was about to be made. Maybe Clinton was going to lay out the conditions under which she'd be prepared to leave the race and concede the nomination to Barack Obama.

Then came her plan.

"A bowling night. Right here in Pennsylvania. The winner take all," she said. "I'll even spot him two frames."

Obama famously went bowling in Altoona on Saturday, with many balls falling off the edge of the lane and missing the pins altogether for a final score of 37, which is pretty bad.

"It is time for his campaign to get out of the gutter and allow all the pins to be counted," she said. "I'm prepared to play this game all the way to the 10th frame. When this game is over, the American people will know that when that phone rings at 3 a.m., they'll have a president ready to bowl on Day One.

"Let's strike a deal and go bowling for delegates.

"We don't have a moment to spare, because it's already April Fools' Day," Clinton said, smiling. "Happy April Fools' Day."

- Larry Eichel

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