Economic Activity Shifts Campaigns' Focus to Wall Street

PUEBLO, Colo.<br>Sept. 15, 2008&#151; -- Calling Monday's economic climate the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression, Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama attacked Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for supporting what Obama called a failing economic philosophy.

On Sunday, the federal government declined to bail out Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers, another financial institution choked by the credit crisis. The ailing firm filed for bankruptcy this morning. Another Wall Street giant, Merrill Lynch & Co, narrowly avoided suffering the same fate by offering itself to Bank of America for sale.

While addressing a crowd in his first solo rally since adding Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the ticket, McCain acknowledged problems caused by the nation's economic state, but claimed the economy's "fundamentals" were sound.

"There's been tremendous turmoil in our financial markets in Wall Street and it is, people are frightened by these events," he said.

"Our economy, I think, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times and I promise you we will never put America in this position again," McCain continued, in an attempt to reassure the crowd.

During a campaign event in Grand Junction, Colo., Monday afternoon, Obama said that the news about Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers "offers more evidence that too many folks in Washington and on Wall Street weren't minding the store."

Obama said news of the Wall Street failures reminded him of the savings and loan crisis of the 1990s, when several of those financial institutions failed and thousands of businesses and families were financially ruined in the process. Obama told voters that, if they are comfortable with the current state of the U.S. economy, they would appreciate the position of his political rival, McCain.

"I certainly don't fault Sen. John McCain for these problems," the Illinois senator said.

"But I do fault the economic philosophy he subscribes to, because it's the same philosophy we've had for the last eight years," he added.

At a "Road to Victory" rally, Republican running mate Palin delivered her standard stump speech, but also acknowledged the recent news from Wall Street.

"This is an issue of real concern," Palin told the large crowd gathered in Golden, Colo.

But, she then pointed out, "I'm glad to see the Federal Reserve has said no to using taxpayer money for a bailout."

The self-professed "Hockey Mom" also discussed her family's small business experience, saying that she had, too, experienced the stresses of the current economy.

"My family has faced the same challenges that many of you have and many across America today," she said.

"We've all built small businesses and worked hard to earn a living. We know the struggles out there," she continued.