All Blog Posts from From The Road

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.) Sarah Palin issued a scathing new line of attack on Barack Obama’s economic philosophy at a rally here, citing an interview he gave as an Illinois state senator in 2001 as evidence that he favors socialist policies that fly in the face of the Constitution.

“It was just the other day that a tape of an interview from 2001 turned up, and there he was talking about the need for quote 'redistributive change,’” Palin said. “And Sen. Obama said that—he said that he regretted--he regretted that the Supreme Court hadn't been more radical and he described the Court's refusal to take up the issues of redistribution of wealth as a tragedy and he said that he also regretted that the Supreme Court did not break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers there in the Constitution, that's a quote.”

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From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.) Sarah Palin issued a scathing new line of attack on Barack Obama’s tax plan at a rally here, citing an interview he gave as an Illinois state senator in 2001 as evidence that he favors socialist policies that fly in the face of the Constitution.

“It was just the other day that a tape of an interview from 2001 turned up, and there he was talking about the need for quote 'redistributive change,’” Palin said. “And Sen. Obama said that—he said that he regretted--he regretted that the Supreme Court hadn't been more radical and he described the court's refusal to take up the issues of redistribution of wealth as a tragedy and he said that he also regretted that the Supreme Court did not break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers there in the Constitution, that's a quote.”

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From CBS News' John Bentley:

(CONCORD, N.C.) – John McCain continued to hammer away on Barack Obama’s tax plan here today, calling it a “government giveaway.”

“He believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans. This explains some big problems with my opponent's claim that he will cut income taxes for 95 percent of Americans. You might ask: how do you cut income taxes for 95 percent of Americans, when more than 40 percent pay no income taxes right now? How do you reduce the number zero?” McCain said. “That's the key to Barack Obama's whole plan: since you can't reduce taxes on those who pay zero, the government will write them all checks called a tax credit.”

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From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(LAS VEGAS) Offshore drilling continues to be a major sticking point between Barack Obama and John McCain, and the two candidates are still jabbing at each other’s position for the second week. Obama, who has argued that drilling will not immediately lower gas prices, is expected today to condemn McCain’s recent comments about the “psychological” benefits of offshore drilling.

At a campaign stop in Fresno yesterday, McCain said, “I don't see an immediate relief, but I do see that exploitation of existing reserves that may exist, and in view of many experts that do exist off our coasts, is also a way that we need to provide relief. Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial."

Obama, who wants to keep a moratorium on offshore drilling, will argue that McCain is offering a “gimmick” similar to the gas tax holiday proposal. Obama opposes the gas tax holiday that McCain supports, arguing the Arizona senator's proposal could cripple highway funding while offering minimal relief at the gas pump.

Obama will discuss his energy plan, which includes the promotion of "green jobs," at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas later today. The Springs Preserve is an historical site which showcases energy efficient buildings.

UPDATE:

In Las Vegas this afternoon, Obama slammed McCain’s energy proposals, arguing that they are “gimmicks” that may poll well but do not provide immediate relief. Obama said that he supports McCain’s $300 million battery prize but that alone would not be enough. “When John F. Kennedy decided that we were going to put a man on the moon, he didn’t put a bounty out for some rocket scientist to win – he put the full resources of the United States government behind the project and called on the ingenuity and innovation of the American people," Obama said.

Obama admitted that his own plan will not immediately affect gas prices but said his proposal for a second stimulus package will offer overall financial relief. “I wish I could wave a magic wand and make gas prices go down, but I can’t," he said. "What I can do – and what I will do – is push for a second stimulus package that will send out another round of rebate checks to the American people.”

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(KAUKAUNA, Wisc.) Barack Obama told a crowd of predominately white, middle class voters today that his tax plan will provide three times more relief than John McCain’s proposed cuts. He charged McCain with only helping the wealthiest families, saying that his tax cuts will only go to households earning more than $2.8 million a year.

“Now, I don’t want to embarrass anybody but how many people here make more than $2.8 million a year,” Obama asked the audience here, “If you’re there, I wanna know you because we’re still fundraising!”

Obama described McCain’s plan as neither conservative nor “fiscally prudent,” calling it a “regressive plan” plan that is twice as expensive as George Bush’s original policies. “I often say that John McCain is running to serve out George Bush’s third term, but that’s not being fair to George Bush,” Obama said to laughter and applause from the crowd.

He denied claims that he is a “tax and spend liberal,” saying that he will not raise taxes on households making under $250,000 per year. However, Obama added, “What is true is I’m gonna ask wealthy Americans to pay a little bit more because they have benefited more from the growth of this economy over the last decade. Of all the economic growth that’s taken place – about three-fourths of it have gone to the wealthiest Americans. It hasn’t gone to workers, it hasn’t gone to you and I don’t think that’s the way to build a strong economy. "

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From CBS News' Joy Lin:

LANSING, MICH. -- Rough hands, scuffed boots, grime smudged clothes, ear plugs, eye masks, work jeans, backwards baseball caps and knit hats. These were the distinguishing characteristics of the crowd of over 300 workers who paused what they were doing to listen to Mike Huckabee stump in their manufacturing facility.

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From CBS News' Joy Lin:

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. –- Mike Huckabee met with over a hundred pastors on Saturday morning to ask them to consider supporting him and when asked about his tax proposal, he said, “Well, you wouldn’t pay taxes on anything you earned, period. There wouldn’t be any taxes on income.”

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From CBS News' Joy Lin:

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Mike Huckabee cancelled his official visit, but then stopped by the "Fair Tax" rally before tonight's GOP debate anyway. Standing in the back of a red pickup truck owned by state campaign manager Chris Caldwell, he delivered a short speech to an enthusiastic crowd of about a hundred supporters.

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From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

MELBOURNE, FLA. -- Rudy Giuliani’s plan to deliver a major tax form overhaul proposal was delayed a few hours today after a bomb threat was called into the location of the event.

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From CBS News' Correspondent Nancy Cordes, who's covering the Huckabee campaign:

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was introduced on NBC's "Meet the Press" with a bit of bad news. A new MSNBC poll finds him back in second place in Iowa behind Mitt Romney. “Has Mitt Romney said anything that’s been untrue about you?” Tim Russert asked. Huckabee replied half-jokingly, “How long do we have on this program today?”

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