McCain: 'Americans are angry'
Posted: Saturday, October 11, 2008 2:22 PM by Carrie Dann
From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy and Carrie Dann
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- After several days of news coverage about rowdy and impassioned Obama opponents voicing their opinions at McCain rallies, John McCain steered away from character issues and emphasized to an Iowa crowd today that Americans are angry about the economy.
"I've traveled all over this great country and one thing I hear from Americans at every stop is that they're angry." Repeating "they are angry," twice, he added, "they're angry about the mess in Washington and Wall Street. They're angry about the failure of leadership at this hour of national crisis. They are angry that our leaders are more interested in pointing fingers at each other and advancing their own political interest than in coming together, Democrats and Republicans to solve the big problems we face."
McCain, who has in the past used questions about his temper to highlight his passion for reform, said that he understands Americans' frustration. "You're angry and I'm angry too and when Sarah Palin and I get to the White House we'll turn Washington upside down. And we'll change this culture of greed, corruption and incompetence," he said.
The Arizona senator and his running mate have been criticized recently for the tone of crowds at their political events, where some attendees have shouted insults and threats about McCain's opponent. Last night in Minnesota, McCain urged supporters to be respectful towards Obama, and he spoke over boos from the crowd to emphasize that Obama is "a decent person and a person who you do not have to be scared [of] as president of the United States."
His remarks focused on the economy today, marking a notable refocusing away from his campaign's aggressive questioning of Barack Obama's character earlier this week. Referencing Obama's comment at Tuesday's debate that federal spending cuts require a "scalpel" rather than "a hatchet," McCain countered that "Right now, we need a hatchet and a scalpel, I'll give you both. I'll give you both."
McCain trails in the polls in Iowa, which has largely faded from the field of battleground states despite its swing status in past election cycles. The GOP nominee told supporters in Davenport to stay optimistic. " I'd like to remind you that the political pundits have been wrong several times," he said, predicting an Iowa win next month. "My friends, if we see a poll that shows us a little bit behind my friends that means we're going to fight harder."
