McCain bids for Ohio on TV stage

By DAVID SKOLNICK and D.A. WILKINSON

The ABC spot was McCain’s fourth visit to the Valley.

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, criticized Barack Obama, his Democratic opponent, and the Bush administration while praising his vice presidential running mate and “Joe the Plumber” during a live appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” at Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center.

“Senator Obama’s economic policies [are] from the far left of American politics and ours are in the center,” McCain, of Arizona, told Robin Roberts, one of the show’s co-hosts, during Friday’s interview. “He wants to raise people’s taxes — that’s clear. We’re going to fight it out on the economic grounds.”

Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, has repeatedly said his economic plan would provide tax relief for families that make less than $250,000 annually and individuals who earn under $200,000 a year.

Most polls of Ohio, considered a key battleground state in the election, show Obama with a modest lead, typically within the poll’s margin of error.

“It’s diverse; it’s large; it’s the heartland of America in many respects,” McCain said of Ohio.

About 700 people showed up to see McCain’s appearance on the network show.

But it was only the lucky ones who got to actually see McCain.

“Good Morning America” positioned the interview location and the crowd in a way that most couldn’t see McCain and Roberts.

A show producer in New York City made a last-minute decision to not allow the audio to be heard in Beeghly Center because of concerns about possible feedback making it difficult for McCain and Roberts to hear each other and for the show’s crew to hear the interview on their headsets, a show official said.

The decision was not a popular one for many at Beeghly, with some having lined up outside the center as early as 1:30 a.m. for the show, which began at 7 a.m.

“I came all this way to see and hear him, and I didn’t get to do either,” said Roxane Morris of Howland. “I’m very disappointed, but he’s still a hero to me.”

Roberts asked McCain if Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, his vice presidential running mate, was the “face of the Republican Party going forward” regardless of the election outcome.

“I think there’s no doubt,” he said. “She’s united our party in a large degree. She’s in many ways an inspirational figure.”

McCain also said Palin, Alaska’s governor since 2007, has “got more experience than Senator Obama and Senator Biden put together.”

Roberts asked McCain how he could create jobs if elected president. McCain pointed to alternative energy including hydrogen, nuclear, wind and solar as ways to get more people working.

Also, McCain said the Bush administration did not properly address the housing foreclosure crisis.

“I’m terribly disappointed with this administration that they seem to be interested in bailing out the bank and not taking care of the homeowners,” he said.

McCain then added: “And ‘Joe the Plumber’ is the best thing; the best breakthrough in a long time.”

Joe the Plumber is Samuel Wurzelbacher, who had questioned Obama about his tax plans during a campaign stop in Ohio last month.

In response to McCain’s comment, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Avon, said: “It’s sad that John McCain’s answer to the economic crisis is to continue the policies that caused it and make desperate, dishonest political attacks against Barack Obama.”

Friday was McCain’s fourth visit to the Mahoning Valley this year. Obama has campaigned in the Valley three times, although only one public rally since losing the Democratic primary in March to U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Later, about 2,000 supporters greeted McCain at a rally at United High School in Hanoverton after the “GMA” appearance.

Most people were in an overflow room and watched on television the activities in a gym crowded with students, politicians and the media.

Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel gave a 15-minute introduction stressing that McCain is a stand-up guy.

Hoppel said McCain refused to be released from captivity during the Vietnam War despite his injuries when other military prisoners would remain in captivity.

“He stood up for our rights as a U.S. senator,” Hoppel said. “He will do what is morally right.”

Hoppel asked whether people wanted a president “with no record of accountability.”

After a negative chorus from the crowd, Hoppel said, “I thought I’d get that answer.”

Adam Booth, the Republican candidate for Columbiana County recorder, said, “We’re going to do great things for America, so let’s get going.”

McCain told the enthusiastic crowd, “Momentum is going to give us victory in Ohio. I’ve been fighting for this country since I was 17.”

He added, “I’ll take America in a new direction.”

Brent Webber of New Garden, who was in the gymnasium with McCain. said he was in the first class that graduated from United’s new facility in 1959. He later flew jets from the USS Forrestal about the time McCain was flying missions from another carrier.

Alberta Doney of Minerva said she supports McCain. “I believe he would fight for us.”

Among those in the overflow area was Columbiana County Commissioner Dan Bing, a Democrat. He said he went to hear McCain, and said he thought he gave a good speech.

After the Hanoverton speech, ABC’s Charlie Gibson interviewed McCain at the Spread Eagle Tavern, a historic inn owned by Dave Johnson, chairman of the Columbiana County Republican Party.

There are no more stops in the Valley on the schedules of the candidates. The election is Tuesday.