ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS - John McCain said Ohio may be experiencing tougher economic times than the rest of the nation and compared Democrat Barack Obama's tax plan to Herbert Hoover's domestic policies.
"The people in Ohio are angry at Washington, D.C. And they are angry. The people in Ohio are facing as tough a situation as I have ever seen. But they remain in good spirits. It is actually surprising the good spirits considering the economic issues in this state," McCain told four reporters who joined him on his Straight Talk Express bus for about 25 minutes Friday following a "Whistle Stop" rally in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
"Now is not the time to raise taxes when we are facing an economic crisis. Now is the time to cut taxes and cut government spending at the same time. Raising taxes at this time is just what Herbert Hoover did during the Great Depression and it caused more harm. We need to cut taxes but at the same time cut back on wasteful government spending. Obama wants to put his tax plan into effect at the worst possible time," McCain said.
"We have seen that 40 percent of Americans don't pay taxes. Senator Obama wants to take money from the people who pay taxes and give it to other people who don't pay any taxes," added the Republican presidential candidate.
He was critical of the multi-billion dollar bailout of the banking industry and Wall Street.
"Working on helping the people who are losing their homes should have been the first priority. The banks should offer the homeowner a mortgage they can afford. And the person who lives next door and pays their mortgage should know the homeowner in trouble will maintain their residence instead of throwing their keys into the street and giving up. We need to keep people in their homes instead of allowing all of these foreclosures," McCain said.
"Senator Obama will create a trillion dollar debt that will remain for our children and grandchildren. We shouldn't do that to our children," added McCain.
He also said U.S. businesses are paying a 35 percent business tax "that is helping to push American companies to other countries."
"Twenty years ago our country had one of the lowest business tax rates. Today we are second in business taxes in the world. Talk to the CEO of Cisco who will keep his business in this country but build new business opportunities in Ireland, where the business tax is only 11 percent. He will take the savings in taxes and put those dollars into research and development," according to McCain.
McCain said he felt good after he boarded his campaign bus at Tuscaro Park in New Philadelphia.
"I am always energized by a good crowd. The more enthusiastic the crowd, the more energized I get. If a crowd is flat, then I don't do as well. Lindsey can tell you that," McCain said, pointing to his Republican Senate colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
"This was a real good crowd today. A good crowd in Steubenville earlier. I'm feeling good about this election. I know the polls in Ohio have showed different results because they are based on different polling models. One shows us behind a couple of points, another shows us even and another poll shows us ahead by a couple points," related McCain while sitting at a small table in the rear of his campaign bus.
"Ohio picks the presidents. That's why this state is so important for us. But I believe we are riding a little bit of momentum as we go into the election. And I believe our momentum started when Sen. Obama stopped by Joe the Plumber's house and told Joe that he wanted to spread the wealth because it was the fair thing to do," said McCain.
"I think Americans are starting to get a real picture of Senator Obama. He is far to the left and really believes in sharing the wealth as a matter of fairness," declared McCain.
When asked about the early voting in Ohio, McCain said he has been "through a lot of elections."
"What we are seeing is a larger early voter turnout in some states. And those early voters are apparently going for Senator Obama. But the difference will be the absentee ballots, which are usually Republican voters," noted McCain.
"I am concerned about the allegations surrounding ACORN. The head of ACORN has recently said they are committed to seeing Senator Obama elected, and they are supposed to be a neutral organization. But the Obama campaign has given money to ACORN. That is something we really do worry about in this election," McCain about the voter registration and political activist organization.
McCain said he is in favor of clean coal technology and wants to see the domestic auto industry rebuild and survive.
"We need to see tax breaks for the auto industry that will save jobs. We need to see tax incentives for more research and development in the United States. We need to give working families $5,000 in tax credits so they can obtain their own health insurance. We need to keep taxes low and stop the excessive spending. That is the pork barrel spending that has led to corruption in Washington," said McCain.
He cited the conviction of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens as the most recent example of corruption in the capital.
"You have Duke Cunningham, the former congressman from California. You have Bob Ney of Ohio, who was in federal prison. That amount of government spending leads to corruption," said McCain.
He also noted Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula was a leader among pork barrel spending projects.
"He is retiring, and now the new congressman from that district won't have the seniority to obtain those pork barrel projects. Wouldn't it be fair if all senators and congressmen had the same opportunity to obtain federal dollars for their district," asked McCain.
He said the winner and loser of Tuesday's presidential election will learn to work together after January.
A candidate for the G.O.P. nomination in 2000, he said America would have been a different place in 2008 if he had won the presidency.
"We would not be in the economic situation we are today. We would have won the war in Iraq years ago. We would never have tortured a prisoner. And we would have had a more comprehensive energy plan already in place by this time," declared McCain.