Clinton, Murtha Gang Up on McCain

(CBS)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hillary Clinton said today that voters are faced with the "most important consequential choice that we've faced in many years" in the upcoming election. Clinton, who spoke before a convention of union workers in downtown Washington, called John McCain "a good man who has served his country with great dedication and honor, but who is dead wrong on all the important issues facing America."

Clinton was very well received by the labor crowd of a few thousand who packed the ballroom, giving her 17 standing ovations throughout her remarks. Although there were some cheers when Barak Obama's name was mentioned during the introduction, the crowd overwhelmingly supported Clinton.

There was no mention of Obama by Clinton in her speech, only that the choice facing Democrats is a difficult one. "I'm running against an incredibly important candidate with an enormous amount of talent and ability who has demonstrated a tremendous capacity for inspiring people across the country, and I respect and honor that," Clinton said.

Her focus was on trade and the increasing economic pressures facing middle class workers. Clinton says too many jobs have been outsourced and have gone overseas to China. Clinton recounted a story from her childhood that reminds her of the current policies implemented by President Bush towards China. "You know, when I was a little girl," she said, "my brothers and their friends were digging a hole in the backyard and I remember my mother asking them 'what are you digging for?' They said 'we're digging a hole to China.' Well, little did I believe all these years later that we would have a Republican Party and president and a Republican nominee who were literally digging us a hole to China."

Clinton added, "We're going to have a vigorous, contested election and as I say, I have a great deal of respect for Senator McCain but when it comes to the economy he looks at the hole that President Bush has dug us into and says 'Why not more? Let's go deeper.'"

McCain was clearly the point of attack at this event. Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa., introduced Clinton and took a swing at McCain as well. "I've served with seven presidents," Murtha said. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older."

Murtha was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in Congress and is 75, four years older than McCain. "This one guy running is about as old as me," Murtha continued. "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."

Clinton returns to Pennsylvania tonight where she will participate in a debate with Obama.