Obama Touts His Tax Policies

Copyright © 2009 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

AUDIE CORNISH: And I'm Audie Cornish, traveling with the Obama campaign in Indianapolis. The Democratic nominee continues to make the rounds in Rust Belt states like Indiana where the senator works to make his message of improved tax policies and job creation resonate.

Senator BARACK OBAMA (Democrat, Illinois, Presidential Candidate): I see some teachers out here for America, I see Teamsters for America. Who's looking out for steel workers? Who's fighting for carpenters? Who's fighting for teachers? Who's fighting for Teamsters? That's the president I want to be.

CORNISH: And to that end, Obama focuses his efforts on poking holes in John McCain's tax policies.

Senator OBAMA: He has every right to defend offshore tax havens, they let companies avoid paying taxes here in America, but I say it's time to close corporate loopholes, shut offshore tax havens, and restore balance and fairness to our tax code.

CORNISH: And pumping up his own economic platform.

Senator OBAMA: And I'll help make sure that we are building the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow, not just in South Korea and Japan. We're building them right here in Indiana.

CORNISH: Indiana may have been a solidly Republican state in the past, but Obama's intense campaigning here may be having an effect, says Indianapolis school teacher Janice Bankert Countrymen(ph). She brought her own two children to see Obama at a downtown rally.

Ms. JANICE COUNTRYMEN (Teacher): I'm Catholic, and so it's been very interesting to talk up to people because some of my community members are historically Republican, and now a lot of us are leaning toward the Democratic ticket this year.

CORNISH: As for today, Obama is taking a short break from the campaign trail. He is instead visiting his grandmother Madelyn Dunham, who lives in Hawaii and who has recently fallen ill. Even though Dunham's birthday is Sunday, Obama won't be around for it; the candidate is scheduled to return to campaigning in Nevada by Saturday afternoon. Audie Cornish, NPR News in Indianapolis.

Copyright ©2009 National Public Radio®. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.