Obama pushes hope: Presidential hopeful says economy is most important issue

HARRISONBURG - Amid deafening crowd noise and a packed JMU Convocation Center, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama made his first Shenandoah Valley appearance Tuesday.

After Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner warmed up the crowd, the candidate entered to the chants “Obama, Obama.”

Near the end of his 40-minute speech that bashed the Bush administration policies and tied Republican nominee John McCain to them, Obama told the crowd now was not the time to let down.

“In one week, it will be hope over fear, it will be change over status quo,’’ Obama said as the crowd yelled.

He told the crowd “we can’t afford to slow down one day, one second this last week.”

The American economy is the single most important issue, Obama said. He also ticked off a list of dire economic statistics, including the loss of 760,000 American jobs since the start of the year.

Obama said McCain has supported the failed policies of the Bush administration.

“John McCain has stood with George Bush every step of the way,’’ said Obama pointing to McCain’s support of Bush tax cuts and budgets. “He can’t tell you a single major thing he would do differently than George Bush.”

Speaking of the current tough economy, Obama said he would offer tax cuts to 95 percent of American workers, while increasing taxes for those who make more than $250,000 a year.

And while he did not promise to bring back all the American jobs lost, Obama said he would offer a $3,000 tax break to each new job businesses create.

He said the United States also will invest in renewable energies such as solar and wind and fuel efficient cars.

As for spending, Obama said he plans, if elected, to go through each line of the federal budget and trim spending and cut programs that do not work.

“This won’t be easy,’’ Obama said. He said a deep hole had been dug and said “it is time to come together and change this country.”

Obama’s appearance in a traditionally Republican part of Virginia the week before the election spoke volumes to James Madison University political scientist Bob Roberts.

“If he can get this crowd in this part of the state it is looking good,’’ Roberts said. He also noted a Virginia Commonwealth University poll had Obama leading McCain by 11 points in Virginia, which has not supported a Democratic presidential nominee since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

McCain is not conceding in Virginia.

Virginia Campaign Co-Chair Chris Saxman said Tuesday it is possible McCain will fly through the state and make stops this weekend.

For JMU’s politically active students, Tuesday’s Obama appearance was something they had hoped for. David McKinney, president of the JMU Young Democrats, called Obama’s speech “an inspiration,’’ and said “I have hope’’ because of Obama.

McKinney said he and fellow JMU Young Democrats have helped register hundreds of voters in the past couple of months.

The spirit of competition between Obama and McCain supporters is alive and well on the JMU campus, McKinney said.

“There is a surprisingly large amount of support for McCain,’’ McKinney said.

The JMU campus may mirror the country. While Obama has a lead in the polls, it is still close.

Roberts said the equation of race will be watched when the presidential results come in next week.

“We don’t know the Wilder effect,’’ said Roberts referring to the number of voters who might not vote for Obama because he is black.

Roberts said there will be a lot of analysis next week to see if race was a factor in the final tabulation between Obama and McCain.