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McCain out of touch, state Democratic officials say Friday, Apr 25, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain should not expect his planned visit to Arkansas today to do much for his chances of winning the Natural State in November, Democratic Party officials said Thursday. McCain's record "proves that he's out of touch" with everyday Americans, state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney said in a conference call with reporters on the eve of McCain's visit. "I'm glad he's coming to Arkansas, but he needs to realize one thing: Arkansas voters are going to be looking at his record over the past 25 years, and they're not going to like what they see," Gwatney said. Carly Fiorina, victory chairman for the Republican National Committee, said McCain is "very much in touch" with working-class people in Arkansas and across the nation. The Arizona senator has three stops planned in Arkansas' capital city today, starting with a noon fundraiser at the Capital Hotel co-hosted by former Gov. Mike Huckabee, McCain's last challenger for the GOP nomination before leaving the race last month, and Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and failed candidate for Arkansas governor. After the fundraiser, McCain is scheduled to pay a visit to the Whole Hog Cafe, a Little Rock barbecue restaurant, then meet with students in a mentorship class at Arkansas Baptist College, a historically black college in Little Rock, at about 2 p.m. McCain has been traveling to parts of the country where many live in poverty, said Fiorina, former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard. Other states he has visited this week include Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky and Louisiana. "He wanted to talk with those people and understand what has worked and what hasn't worked, and how the programs that he is proposing can help, but also which government programs have failed in the past," Fiorina said. Gwatney said comments by McCain in support of making President Bush's tax cuts permanent, extending American involvement in Iraq and privatizing Social Security show he is out of touch with everyday Americans. Lottie Shackelford of Little Rock, vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said it is ironic that McCain is visiting a college campus. "His record does not reflect that he has been particularly concerned, particularly as it relates to minority students, as to whether or not they'll even be able to access loans so that they can attend college. McCain was only one of 18 senators to vote against a plan that would have boosted college loans," she said. Fiorina said in a telephone interview McCain's plans to help homeowners refinance mortgages to avoid foreclosure, increase tax exemptions for families and suspend the federal gasoline tax for the summer show he is not out of touch. She lost her job at Hewlett-Packard in 2005 in a fight over the company's direction and was given a $21 million severance package. While running the company, she drew criticism for laying off thousands of workers. Asked Thursday if her history affects her credibility as a spokeswoman for McCain on economic issues, Fiorina said it does - in a positive way. "I think it gives me great credibility, because I know why jobs leave." she said. "You're correct, I had to make a very difficult decision and lay employees off. I also created over 35,000 jobs. I understand why jobs leave, and I understand why jobs are created." Fiorina has been mentioned as possible running mate for McCain, as has Huckabee. The Arkansas AFL-CIO said members would be at the Capital Hotel today to advocate passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill to revise laws on organizing unions. McCain opposes the measure. According to the Federal Election Commission, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y, has raised $1.4 million in Arkansas. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has raised $187,213 in the state. McCain has raised the least funds in the state before today, collecting $126,653. |
