Obama discusses economy in eastern Ohio

By JOE MILICIA

Associated Press Writer

Barack Obama took a swipe at Republicans on Wednesday while talking about jobs in eastern Ohio.

The Democratic presidential nominee criticized the GOP for not discussing the economy Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention.

"All these speakers came up. You did not hear a single word about the economy. Now think about it: Not once did people mention the hardships that folks are going through," Obama said at a Kent State University branch campus in New Philadelphia. "Not once did they mention what are we going to do about keeping jobs here in Ohio."

Obama promised to cut taxes and raise the minimum wage. It was one of two stops scheduled in Ohio's Appalachian region.

Obama didn't fare well in the March primary in eastern Ohio, the tip of Appalachia and one of the state's economically troubled areas.

"It's a more rural, small-town area that didn't resonate to an African-American candidate," said Paul Beck, a political science professor at Ohio State University.

But Beck and Mark Cassell, an associate professor of political science at Kent State, said Obama can still win over many voters there.

"His message plays well in eastern Ohio," Cassell said. "His strengths are his pragmatic economic proposals. Even though he didn't necessarily do well in the primary against Hillary Clinton, it's going to be a message that's attractive to that part of the state."

Obama attended a barbecue late Wednesday afternoon in Dillonvale, a village of less than 1,000 people located just a few miles from the Ohio River. Obama made brief remarks contrasting his economic plan with that of presumed Republican nominee John McCain, then left for Pittsburgh.

He received just 28 percent of the primary vote in Jefferson County, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton got 66 percent.

President Bush narrowly won Ohio in 2004 and the Obama and McCain campaigns have vowed not to concede any part of the state.

Obama promised those gathered at the Kent State branch that he'd stop giving tax breaks to companies who shift jobs overseas, drawing applause.

Obama, who mistakenly called the city "New Pennsylvania," said he would help get women equal pay, better than the 77 cents to every dollar a man makes.

The McCain campaign didn't allow the slip to pass.

"Out of desperation, Barack Obama has argued that he's experienced enough to be president because he's an expert manager at running his own presidential campaign -- but today he didn't even know where his campaign was," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in an e-mail statement.

Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor called Obama's approach disingenuous. She said that spending time on fair pay is counterproductive, when the more important issue is jobs for women and all Ohioans. Taylor is a Republican who co-chairs the McCain campaign in Ohio.

Ohio's unemployment rate reached 7.2 percent in July, the highest level in more than 15 years.

Beck said Ohio's Appalachian region is up for grabs. The voters who backed Clinton could be kept on the Democratic side, especially if Obama gets help from Gov. Ted Strickland, a former congressman from Appalachia.

Strickland, who joined Obama last weekend in Ohio, was not scheduled to attend either campaign stop Wednesday.

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Associated Press writer Philip Elliott in New Philadelphia contributed to this report.