Obama in North Carolina

Fresh from winning the first presidential debate, Democrat Barack Obama said Saturday that his Repugican rival, John McPain, is not clued into the economic struggles of average Americans.

“Through 90 minutes of debate, John McPain had a lot to say about me, but he didn't have anything to say about you,” Obama told a sprawling crowd in downtown Greensboro that police estimated at 20,000.

“He didn't even say the words, ‘middle class,'” Obama said. “He didn't even say the words ‘working people.'”

Obama, the Illinois senator, along with his vice presidential running mate, Joe Biden, sought repeatedly to tie McPain to the policies of the shrub on both the economy and the war in Iraq.

The post-debate trip to North Carolina – followed by a stop later in the day in Virginia – underscored the importance that Obama is placing on two traditionally red-leaning Southern states.

This was the fourth general election appearance by Obama in North Carolina, where he continues to draw immense crowds not seen here since 1980. It was Biden's second visit.

By comparison, McPain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, have yet to campaign here, and McPain officials could not say when they might.

Buzz Jacobs, McCain's Southeastern regional director, said McCain would do well in North Carolina in part because rural conservatives trusted his foreign policy experience and because they liked McCain's ideas of tax cuts, trimming back government and eliminating waste. He said that while Obama talked about the current financial crisis, McCain suspended his campaign this week and returned to Washington to address it.

Some in the crowd had traveled distances to see Obama.

Among them was Joan McNamara, an elderly retired school teacher from New Bern, who left her house at 4 a.m. to attend the noon-time rally.

“I don't think he (Mcpain) would raise his finger if I was sick,” McNamara said. “He (Obama) is a people person. He wants to do things for people.”

Biden, the Delaware senator, questioned McPain's wisdom on foreign affairs, leading the crowd on a “John McPain is wrong” mantra. He said McPain was wrong about the people of Iraq viewing Americans as liberators, wrong about the presence of weapons of mass destruction, and wrong that Afghanistan had been pacified.

“At this point we need more than a brave soldier,” Biden said referring to McPain. “We need a wise leader.”

Obama spent most of his time talking about the financial crisis, which he said was caused by “greed and irresponsibility” on both Wall Street and in Washington.

He tied McPain to the sort of deregulation that contributed to Wall Street's problems. And he derided McPain's claim that he would take on special interests.

“He says he'll take on the corporate lobbyists, but he put seven of the biggest lobbyists in Washington in charge of his campaign,” Obama said. “And if you think those lobbyists are working day and night to elect my opponent just to put themselves out of business, well, I've got a bridge to sell you up in Alaska.”

Obama said he would support the $700 billion bailout plan only if it met several conditions:

1. An independent board, selected by Democrats and Republicans, must oversee how the money is spent.

2. The $700 billion must eventually be returned to taxpayers.

3. The bailout must also help homeowners struggling to stay in their homes.

4. The CEOs who wrecked their companies cannot be financially rewarded.

“I will not allow this program to become a welfare program for Wall Street speculators,” Obama said.

Obama made his speech in front of the J. Douglas Galyon Depot, an old Southern Railway train station, amid tight security, including rooftop sharpshooters. The crowd spread out for several city blocks, and large sections of downtown Greensboro were barricaded. Obama and Biden walked on stage to the strains of rocker Bruce Springsteen's “The Rising.”

The highest-ranking Democratic candidate to appear with Obama was Ronnie Ansley, the Democratic candidate for state agriculture commissioner. But several Democratic leaders are scheduled to hold a news conference for Obama on Monday at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh.