Obama sharpens tone against McCain

updated 2:31 p.m. ET Oct. 29, 2008

WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama sharpened his tone against John McCain, accusing his Republican rival of sinking low by accusing him of being a socialist based on his tax plan.

Rallying a crowd Wednesday in North Carolina, the Democratic presidential contender said McCain will soon "be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten."

Obama also tried to turn around McCain's reliance on the argument of helping "Joe the Plumber." He's the Ohio man who gained national attention when Obama told him during a campaign stop that he wanted to "spread the wealth around."

Obama said people will be worse off under a McCain presidency whether they are "Suzy the student, or Nancy the nurse, or Tina the teacher, or Carl the construction worker."

While candidates edged in quick jabs, attention turned on the economy, the prime issue in the campaign and a huge drag on McCain as he tries to shed the legacy of President Bush, a fellow Republican.

'Clean break'
McCain running mate Sarah Palin joined that effort Wednesday, calling for a "clean break" from the Bush administration's energy policies, which she said relied too much on importing foreign oil.

"We not only provide wealth to the sponsors of terror, we provide high-value targets to the terrorists themselves," Palin said. "Across the world are pipelines, refineries, transit routes and terminals for the oil we rely on. And al-Qaida terrorists know where they are."

In a policy address in Toledo, Ohio, Palin said the recent drop in oil and gasoline prices shouldn't prevent the development of alternative energy sources. The Alaska governor renewed her call for more drilling in U.S. coastal waters and said she and McCain would press for the construction of 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030. Palin also called for the development of clean-coal technology.

Despite Palin's attempt to distance McCain's energy policies from those of the Bush administration, McCain's energy plan largely mirrors the priorities President Bush has pushed for eight years, especially more domestic production.

Offshore oil money
In a campaign appearance Wednesday in Miami's Little Havana, Republican presidential candidate John McCain also renewed his call for additional drilling offshore.

Video Obama: McCain echoing Bush policies Oct. 29: Speaking in North Carolina, Barack Obama says John McCain is echoing George Bush's economic policies of tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations. MSNBC

In Florida, McCain said that such an incentive would increase energy production and help consumers struggling with gasoline prices by leaving the decision to the states but giving them a reason to act.

McCain is spending the day in Florida contesting that state's 27 electoral votes, a crucial battleground in next week's election. After his Miami rally, McCain planned to meet with military leaders in Tampa to talk about national security issues.

Palin said she and McCain believed in an "all of the above" approach toward weaning the U.S. off its dependence on foreign oil and criticized Democrat Barack Obama for being slow to embrace options like offshore oil drilling and nuclear power.

Obama has signaled a willingness to explore limited offshore drilling and has said nuclear power is essential to helping meet U.S. energy needs while raising concerns about how to store nuclear waste safely.

Palin's policies
The speech sought to highlight one of Palin's resume strengths: energy. As governor, she pushed for $250 million in renewable energy research and an additional $60 million in rebates for Alaskans to make their homes energy efficient.

She crafted her reformer image by standing up to oil-influenced corruption in the Republican Party and pushing through a natural gas pipeline bill that had died at her predecessors' feet.

In Toledo, Palin spoke of fighting the Alaska political establishment and big oil companies, which she said colluded to block the development of a natural gas pipeline that she subsequently helped to develop.

But the speech oversimplified the pipeline project. There's no guarantee that the 1,715-mile pipeline will ever be built. Even if it's not, the company selected to lead the project could still receive up to $500 million in state subsidies.

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