12:17 p.m. - On the substance, McCain also proposed taxing seniors at only a 10 percent rate for withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs, instead of the regular rates. He would increase to $15,000 (from $3k) the market losses that can be deducted during the tax years of 2008 and 2009. Folks are filing out of the gym at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell now.
11:59 a.m. - McCain utters the word "fight," or its gerund, 14 times in a 23 minute address. This is the newly revamped McCain stump speech. He's feisty, no longer as rambling as he had been at times.
11:54 p.m. - Of Obama, "Perhaps never before have the American people been asked to risk so much based on so little." Oh, he's eloquent, but he's going to raise your taxes.
11:50 p.m. - MCain wants to eliminate taxes entirely on unemployment benefits to help the struggling. He's not backing down from his plan to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, which Democrats have teed off on for months as a giveaway to fact cats.
11: 46 p.m. Obama's plan to end penalties for early withdrawals from retirement accounts "is an invitation to capital flight, when exactly the opposite is needed," McCain says. He proposes cutting the capital gains tax rate for stocks bought and held for more than a year in half - from 15 percent to 7.5 percent.
11:41 a.m. - Fightin' John wants to use a portion of the $700 billion bailout money to help regular folks. "Instead of just propping up institutions deemed 'too big to fail'...we will use more of this public money to help businesses and homeowners that may be too small to survive."
11:39 a.m. - McCain is going to "fight." It's time to "fight." It's very pugilistic so far. No character attacks on Barack Obama.
11:30 a.m. Rocky theme and John Mcain comes in right on time.
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
LATEST ELECTION NEWS
Philly.com Promotions
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
- Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Marketplace | Celebrations
