After a week of economic turmoil, McCain has decided to join Obama in Oxford, MS at the first presidential debate.
(I’m here at Huntsman Hall 240 with the Penn Democrats.)
The candidates have just taken the stage in Oxford, Mississippi. And the first question goes to Sen. Obama — on the economy.
He calls it the “final verdict” on an economic policy supported by Bush and McCain. He said he hopes the middle class gets a “fair shake.”
McCain says he “hasn’t been feeling too great about things lately,” and said the situation must be resolved, but that the package must have bipartisan support. He emphasizes that this is the “end of the beginning” of the financial talks.
Lehrer: Do you agree on plan?
Obama says he understands the magnitude of problem, and that problem must be resolved in the short term. But he questions the previous deregulation.
McCain picks up on this and says that he also saw the train wreck coming. He also remarks that corruption has been rewarded and that he won’t tolerate that in his White House.
Obama charges McCain with saying “fundamentals of economy are strong,” with Lehrer saying he should point to McCain directly. (How strange and awkward on stage…)
McCain reinforces that he has faith in American worker, a typical line he has used to fill in as the actual “fundamentals.”
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