Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama began his Charleston appearance Thursday before he even got in the building.
More than 500 people could not be seated in the Riggleman Hall auditorium and instead were placed inside Eddie King Gymnasium on the University of Charleston's campus. Obama stopped there before giving his speech, shaking hands and signing autographs.
Before an audience of about 700 people, Obama talked about the war in Iraq and its cost for future generations.
He then went next door to the packed auditorium and tied together two of the major themes in this year's campaign: the faltering U.S. economy and the war in Iraq.
"Today, I want to talk about another cost of this war - the toll it has taken on our economy," he told the throng of more than 700. "Because at a time when we're on the brink of recession - when neighborhoods have 'for sale' signs outside every home, and working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs - ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war."
The excited crowd interrupted his speech a number of times, applauding, coming to its feet, shouting and cheering.
"This election is our chance to reclaim our future - to end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for good jobs and universal health care," Obama said. "To end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for a world-class education and retirement security. To end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for opportunity, and equality, and prosperity here at home."
Obama seldom mentioned his Democratic opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., but did link Republican nominee Sen. John McCain with Bush administration policies.
He said no president before Bush had ever lowered taxes for the rich while the nation was at war.
"John McCain once opposed these tax cuts - he rightly called them unfair and fiscally irresponsible," Obama said. "But now he has done an about-face and wants to make them permanent, just like he wants a permanent occupation in Iraq.
"No matter what the costs, no matter what the consequences, John McCain seems determined to carry out a third Bush term," he said. "That's an outcome America can't afford.
"Because of the Bush-McCain policies, our debt has ballooned. This is creating problems in our fragile economy. And that kind of debt also places an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren, who will have to repay it."
National Republicans were quick to strike back. Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's communications director, said the speech "again displayed how fundamentally wrong" Obama is on both the economy and war.
She said Obama's economic proposals would "stifle the economic growth that produces jobs." She said his war policy is to "rehash the past [rather] than look forward with resolve to address fundamental challenges and opportunities we have today to secure our future."
Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama began his Charleston appearance Thursday before he even got in the building.
More than 500 people could not be seated in the Riggleman Hall auditorium and instead were placed inside Eddie King Gymnasium on the University of Charleston's campus. Obama stopped there before giving his speech, shaking hands and signing autographs.
He then went next door to the packed auditorium and tied together two of the major themes in this year's campaign: the faltering U.S. economy and the war in Iraq.
"Today, I want to talk about another cost of this war - the toll it has taken on our economy," he told the throng of more than 700. "Because at a time when we're on the brink of recession - when neighborhoods have 'for sale' signs outside every home, and working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs - ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war."
The excited crowd interrupted his speech a number of times, applauding, coming to its feet, shouting and cheering.
"This election is our chance to reclaim our future - to end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for good jobs and universal health care," Obama said. "To end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for a world-class education and retirement security. To end the fight in Iraq and take up the fight for opportunity, and equality, and prosperity here at home."
Obama seldom mentioned his Democratic opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., but did link Republican nominee Sen. John McCain with Bush administration policies.
He said no president before Bush had ever lowered taxes for the rich while the nation was at war.
"John McCain once opposed these tax cuts - he rightly called them unfair and fiscally irresponsible," Obama said. "But now he has done an about-face and wants to make them permanent, just like he wants a permanent occupation in Iraq.
"No matter what the costs, no matter what the consequences, John McCain seems determined to carry out a third Bush term," he said. "That's an outcome America can't afford.
"Because of the Bush-McCain policies, our debt has ballooned. This is creating problems in our fragile economy. And that kind of debt also places an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren, who will have to repay it."
National Republicans were quick to strike back. Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's communications director, said the speech "again displayed how fundamentally wrong" Obama is on both the economy and war.
She said Obama's economic proposals would "stifle the economic growth that produces jobs." She said his war policy is to "rehash the past [rather] than look forward with resolve to address fundamental challenges and opportunities we have today to secure our future."
Obama pointed out "conservative estimates" say the Iraq war "has now cost more than half a trillion dollars, more than any other war in our history besides World War II. Some say the true cost is even higher and that by the time it's over, this could be a $3 trillion war."
He also pointed out the cost has skyrocketed since early estimates.
"We were told this war would cost $50 [billion] to $60 billion, and that reconstruction would pay for itself out of Iraqi oil profits," he said. "We were told higher estimates were nothing but baloney. Like so much else about this war, we were not told the truth."
While the nation is spending $10 billion a month for the Iraq war, Obama said he would instead use that money to fund better equipment for troops, fighting the terrorists who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11 and constructing roads and bridges.
He also pointed out the massive debt has caused the U.S. to borrow money from China to finance the war.
"Having China as our banker isn't good for our economy, it isn't good for our global leadership and it isn't good for our national security," he said. "History teaches us that for a nation to remain a pre-eminent military power, it must remain a pre-eminent economic power.
Obama said McCain is offering tax cuts for the richest Americans and saying troops could remain in Iraq for 100 years.
"It's why I said back in 2002 that [the war] could lead to an occupation not just of undetermined length or undetermined consequences, but of undetermined costs," he said. "It's why I've said this war should have never been authorized and never been waged."
He said McCain is embracing failed policies of the past, "but America is ready to embrace the future."
Obama was accompanied by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and his wife Sharon. Rockefeller and Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., are so far the only West Virginia superdelegates to endorse his candidacy. Three of the remaining seven delegates have endorsed Clinton, leaving five uncommitted superdelegates.
A Rasmussen poll released Thursday showed West Virginians believe Clinton has a better chance of defeating McCain than Obama. Forty-eight percent of state voters told pollsters they believe Clinton would be stronger against McCain, while 31 percent said Obama would.
Before leaving for his Beckley appearance, Obama and his party had lunch at the Kanawha City sports bar Murad's. The senator reportedly had a dozen hot wings and posed for pictures with numerous members of the restaurant's staff.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
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Video highlights of Obama's visit to Charleston
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