Obama Returns to N.C. Campaign Trail

RALEIGH — Barack Obama returned to North Carolina today for a major speech on the economy in which he called for an additional $50 billion stimulus package on top of the tax rebate checks the federal government has already given out.

Obama also repeatedly linked John McCain with President Bush, saying that McCain’s proposals represent an extension of Bush’s policies in the areas of taxes, health care, home foreclosures, the deficit and college affordability, among others. His comments came in the wake of news about record-high gas prices and accelerating unemployment.

“This was not an inevitable part of the business cycle that was beyond our power to avoid. It was the logical conclusion of a tired and misguided philosophy that has dominated Washington for far too long,” Obama said.

National and North Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, have spent most of the day counterattacking, calling Obama out of touch with ordinary Americans and saying that his policies would cause large tax increases.

Obama’s speech today, at the N.C. state fairgrounds, was his first return to North Carolina since he won the state’s Democratic primary on May 6. It was also his first formal campaign event after Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race and endorsed Obama on Saturday.

Obama’s decision to come here is a sign of his belief that he can make North Carolina competitive in the general election.

(Pictured above: Obama arriving this morning at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.)