Politics / Barack Obama McCain, Obama Outline Dueling Economic Plans Candidates differ sharply on how to get economy rolling again By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Jun 11, 2008 6:24 AM CDT Copied Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about the economy, Monday, June 9, 2008, at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) John McCain and Barack Obama drew clear battle lines yesterday over a central election issue—the sputtering economy. McCain promised to boost the economy with tax cuts and reduced regulation, while Obama set out a strategy to help the hard-hit poor and raise taxes on the rich, reports the Washington Post. The rival plans conform to the pair's respective party lines—and both invoked the names of earlier presidents. "I've said John McCain is running to serve out a third Bush term, but when it comes to taxes, that's not being fair to George Bush," Obama said. McCain went a little further back, saying it seemed as if Obama was "running for Jimmy Carter's second term." (More Barack Obama stories.) Report an error