Monday, October 13, 2008

McCain camp offers mixed signals on economic plan

ARLINGTON, Va. - Republican John McCain's campaign is sending mixed signals about whether the candidate will offer new proposals to address the financial crisis.

On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top adviser to McCain, said the presidential candidate was considering a reduction in taxes on investments, including a possible cut in the capital gains tax. But campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said McCain would not announce any specific proposals during campaign stops Monday in Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He added, "We will likely have further proposals this week as economic news and conditions change."

McCain refused to answer a reporter's question Sunday about what plans he might be considering.

Instead, the Arizona senator planned a new speech at a campaign stop in Virginia Monday in which he argues he can win the race despite national and battleground state polls showing him trailing Barack Obama amid the deepening market crisis.

"The national media has written us off. Senator Obama is measuring the drapes, and planning with Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and Senator (Harry) Reid to raise taxes, increase spending, take away your right to vote by secret ballot in labor elections, and concede defeat in Iraq. But they forgot to let you decide. My friends, we've got them just where we want them," McCain planned to tell supporters, according to speech excerpts provided by the campaign.

In fact, Obama has proposed tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 and has called for a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq........

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