WASHINGTON (AFP) — White House foes Barack Obama and John McCain Thursday jousted for political points on the prime issue of the economy, after new official figures showed a sixth straight month of job losses.
Democrat Obama seized on the disappearance of 62,000 nonfarm jobs to seek to link his Republican adversary to what he said were President George W. Bush's failed economic strategy.
"The American people are paying the price for the failed economic policies of the past eight years, and we can't afford four more years of more of the same," said Obama in a statement.
"That is the essential issue of this campaign, because Senator McCain has fully embraced the Bush economic agenda. I believe it has to change."
McCain meanwhile, wrapping up a visit to Mexico and Colombia which he has used to accuse Obama of wanting to establish protectionist trade barriers, also sought to identify with those feeling the pinch.
"Americans across this country are hurting and today's job numbers are just the latest indication," McCain said in a written statement.
"From rising gas prices to home foreclosures, families are struggling to meet economic challenges that become greater every day.
"Washington can no longer abdicate its responsibility to act. Our focus must be clear: to enact policies to create jobs today."
McCain did not mention Obama by name, but took a veiled swipe at his fellow Senator, saying the United States could not afford policies that would take the economy in "the wrong direction and cost jobs."
"At a time when our small businesses need support from Washington, we cannot raise taxes, increase regulation and isolate ourselves from foreign markets," McCain said.
"These are the same old siren songs that have failed the American people time and again."
Opinion polls show that the economy has surpassed the war in Iraq and national security as the prime issue in the 2008 presidential campaign.
A CNN/Opinion Research survey published Thursday found that 58 percent of registered voters said the economy was "extremely important" in their vote for president, up from 45 percent in January.
Thursday's Labor Department report showed that US employers shed 62,000 nonfarm jobs in June amid a lingering slowdown.
The unemployment rate held steady last month at 5.5 percent.
The volume of job losses was slightly worse than the markets had expected.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
