Obama says he will sustain middle class

The Democratic candidate addresses 25,000 in downtown Raleigh, stressing economics and mocking his rival's Joe the Plumber attacks

RALEIGH -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made what is likely his final appeal to North Carolina voters Wednesday, telling a mass rally that his policies would best help the middle class.

Appearing in downtown Raleigh before a noontime crowd that state and local police estimated at 25,000 people, Obama disputed Republican criticisms that his economic policies were outside the mainstream, saying they would be little different from those under President Clinton.

Obama said Republican presidential candidate John McCain has called him "a socialist for wanting to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give tax relief to the middle class. By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten."

The Obama rally came a day after McCain declared in Fayetteville that Obama wanted to be "redistributionist in chief."

"No one cares what Barack Obama does with his toys," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said Wednesday. "But Americans do care that he wants to raise taxes, add a trillion dollars in new spending and redistribute your hard-earned paycheck as he sees fit."

It has been an extraordinary political month in North Carolina, with Obama, McCain and their running mates campaigning across the state as if they were candidates for the governor's mansion rather than the White House. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, is scheduled to visit Raleigh on Saturday.

In back-to-back rallies this week, Obama and McCain offered contrasting styles.

McCain emphasized his experience in national security, while Obama stressed the economy. McCain's rally was more intense, reflecting McCain's need to win a traditionally GOP-leaning state that now appears to hang in the balance. The Obama rally was more subdued and seemed to have less urgency. Unlike McCain, Obama gave no predictions that he would carry the state.

The McCain rally was heavy on country music, including a live performance by Hank Williams Jr. Obama took the stage to a recording of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising."

Parrying GOP attacks

Obama sought to counter McCain's "Joe the Plumber" attacks, which revolve around Obama's answer to a question from an Ohio tradesman earlier this month. "When you spread the wealth around," Obama told the plumber, "it's good for everybody."

On Wednesday, Obama told the crowd: "Whether you are Nancy the Nurse, Tina the Teacher, or Carl the Construction Worker -- if my opponent is elected, you will be worse off four years from now than you are today."

Obama said McCain would continue the economic policies of President Bush. He said McCain would continue the tax cuts for billionaires and big oil, would tax health care benefits for the first time and has no plans to make college more affordable.

"So let's cut through the negative ads and the phony attacks," Obama said. "Under John McCain, the middle class will watch wealth get favored over work, jobs gets shipped overseas and the cost of health care and college go through the roof."

Obama said his plans call for giving tax breaks to 95 percent of Americans. (The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has said that 81 percent of tax filers would see reduced taxes under Obama's plan.)

He said he would eliminate income taxes for senior citizens making under $50,000 and would provide a larger tax break for homeowners and working parents. He would roll back the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 per year.

Obama was greeted by much of the state's Democratic establishment, including Gov. Mike Easley, former Gov. Jim Hunt and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic candidate for governor.

An overflow crowd

The rally transformed the state government complex in downtown Raleigh, shutting off streets, causing state workers to gawk from their high-rise offices. Secret Service sharpshooters patrolled the roofs and a helicopter circled overhead. Raleigh police and the N.C. Highway Patrol estimated the crowd at 25,000, with another 1,000 people being turned away.

Among those in the crowd were Michelle McLaughlin, 39, who rose at 4 a.m. to make the trip from her home in Fayetteville to get a prime spot.

"I want to be in the midst," McLaughlin said. "I believe in his goals. I truly believe he has America's best interests at heart."

Bringing the family

Courtney and Valerie Cady of Raleigh brought their sons, Courtney Jr., 2, and Tyler, 2 months. The father, who said he had never been to a political event before, said he was drawn by Obama's message of tearing down racial and regional divisions.

"I just felt my whole family needed to be here today to see this," said Courtney Cady, 24. "This is something positive. It's inspiring to be part of it."

Many Obama supporters were optimistic about his chances. Those included Diana Spears, 43, a computer expert from Raleigh.

"My only concern is that people who have not voted will be overconfident and think it's in the bag," Spears said. "I think it would be quite amazing if he didn't make it."