Published: October 01, 2008 11:15 am            

Online voters choose McCain to handle crisis

Phil Riddle, Democrat Editor

Participants in this week’s online poll favor Republican John McCain to deal with the nation’s financial mess.

More than 200 voters selected McCain by a 64 percent to 36 percent margin over Democrat Barack Obama as the answer to the question, “Which major-party presidential candidate do you think can best manage the country’s current economic crisis?”

Votes were accepted for a week, from noon Tuesday, Sept. 23 to noon Sept. 30. The poll is not scientific and reflects only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Both candidates came out with statements regarding the country’s monetary quagmire following Monday’s shocking defeat of a $700 billion bailout bill. Both supported the failed legislation, though neither is willing to call the plan a “bailout,” and both are proposing upping government coverage of individual bank accounts from $100,000 to $250,000.

McCain told reporters Tuesday he has suggested to President Bush the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund of $250 billion be used to shore up faltering institutions and the Treasury should purchase $1 trillion in mortgages.

“By the way,” the Arizona Senator said on CNN, “the first thing I’d do is say, ‘Let’s not call it a bailout. Let’s call it a rescue.’ Because it is a rescue. It’s a rescue of Main Street America.”

Obama , who also tagged the program a “rescue” plan, said results for Americans could be “catastrophic” if a deal is not reached soon. He hopes Congress can build on the foundation of Monday’s rejected bill instead of starting from square one.

“Given the progress we made,” Obama said in a statement to the Associated Press, “I believe we are unlikely to succeed if we start from scratch or reopen negotiations about the core elements of the agreement. But in order to pass the plan, we must do more.”

Click on to www.weatherforddemmocrat.com to take part in next week’s poll. The question is, “Do you support some form of taxpayer bailout to help improve current economic conditions?”

        

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