PRINT ADS

Supporters of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain sparred over their economic policies Wednesday, a day before Obama's first visit to the state since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Obama is scheduled to visit Kaukauna today to discuss his economic proposals. The visit comes on the heels of the visit of McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, to Greendale, near Milwaukee, in late May.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, got in a pre-emptive strike against Obama on Wednesday, saying Obama would push for the biggest tax increase in history.

"The last thing this country and this state needs is massive tax increases along the lines of what Senator Obama is proposing," Ryan told reporters on a conference call.

Jason Furman, economic policy adviser for Obama, said in an interview that tax cuts proposed by Obama will benefit the middle class, while McCain would cut taxes on corporations and wealthy people.

With gas prices rising, the housing market flagging and people worried about keeping their jobs, the economy has overtaken Iraq as the No. 1 issue in voter's eyes, according to the two campaigns.

Obama's visit to Kaukauna is part of a two-week swing through competitive states in which he will focus on the economy. Obama was scheduled to visit Kaukauna in February before the state's primary, but he was forced to cancel due to bad weather.

"This is the first week of the general election and the whole week is on the economy," Furman said, underscoring the importance of the topic. "Next week is the second week of the general election and the whole week is on the economy."

On Monday, Obama called for $50 billion in federal aid for people who have lost their jobs and their homes, an end to Bush administration tax cuts for wealthier people to pay for $1,000 tax cuts to the middle class, and eliminating taxes on retirees who make less than $50,000 annually.

In April in Milwaukee, McCain said he would continue Bush's tax cuts, suspend gas taxes and eliminate wasteful spending in Washington by vetoing bills with earmarks.

He has also proposed repealing the alternative-minimum tax, doubling the income-tax exemption for dependents and cutting the corporate tax rate.