DaytonDailyNews.com

PORTSMOUTH — Republican John McCain told Ohio voters that he'd veto all pork barrel spending bills that comes across his desk, push alternative fuels and nuclear power as the path to energy independence, and cut taxes and government spending as a way to revive the American economy.

McCain was in Ohio for this second town hall meeting, this time at Portsmouth High School on Wednesday, July 9, with about 1,200 people.

"I have a plan to grow this economy, create more and better jobs, and get America moving again. I have a plan to reform government, achieve energy security, and ensure that health care is available and affordable for every American," McCain said to the largely supportive crowd.

McCain stressed nuclear power, clean coal technology, renewable energy sources and alternative fuels as the path to energy independence – a plan he calls the Lexington Project.

"My opponent's answer to the Lexington Project is no; no to more drilling; no to more nuclear power; no to research prizes that help solve the problem of affordable electric cars," McCain said. "For a guy whose official seal carried the motto, 'Yes, we can,' Sen. (Barack) Obama's agenda sure has a whole lot of 'No, we can't'."

Obama favors a windfall profit tax on oil companies, doubling vehicle fuel efficiency standards over the next 18 years, and investing in alternative fuels.

McCain took more than a dozen questions from audience members, ranging from farm subsidies to relations with Iran.

The first question McCain took from the audience was from Joni Fearing, 48, whose father died of cancer after working at the uranium enrichment plant near Piketon. She urged McCain to consider solar and wind power instead of nuclear plants.

McCain said U.S. Navy ships have sailed under nuclear power without incident.

McCain's platform calls for reducing business taxes, extending the Bush tax cuts and cutting the estate tax.

"If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you. Sen. Obama is your man," he said.

Obama has pledged to cut taxes for seniors earning less than $50,000 a year and expand the earned income tax credit for low and moderate income Americans.

Both candidates recognize the economy as a top concern for American voters.

Only one percent of Ohioans rate economic conditions in the U.S. as excellent and nine percent rate conditions as good while 79 percent said economic conditions in Ohio were getting worse, according to an Ohio Poll released last month. Ohio's unemployment rate is 6.3 percent while the national rate is 5.5 percent, according to recent government figures. Eight and a half million Americans are unemployed.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said high-energy prices have hit home in Ohio. In the span of four days last month, he said he received calls from DHL, General Motors and Continental Airlines, all informing him they were cutting between 10,000 and 12,000 jobs because of fuel costs.

"We have a president and vice president who has done nothing to ameliorate these problems and what's even more troubling is Sen. McCain seems to be so tied to the policies of the Bush administration," Strickland said during a conference call held with fellow Democrat Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa. "I'm hearing nothing from him that would indicate he even has a serious comprehension of the effect of our nation's current approach on working class people."

McCain countered that Americans are sick of political bickering.

"They're tired of the gridlock, they're tired of the fighting, they're tired of the partisanship. I would invited Gov. Vilsack and Gov. Strickland to sit down with me and exchange ideas and views as to how we can fix these problems," McCain said. He added, "This is the 'new politics?' I don't think so."

Strickland said he believed Obama "offers us a fresh approach, new ideas" on energy that would appeal to Ohioans.

"It's important for the people of Ohio to see and hear both candidates," he said. "I think the contrast will be stark, and I have no doubt that the people of Ohio will embrace Sen. Obama because of his message."

Ohioans will hear and see more of the candidates in the coming week.

McCain is expected to return to southern Ohio next Wednesday to speak to the NAACP national convention in Cincinnati. Democrat Barack Obama will visit Dayton on Friday and address the NAACP on Monday.

Staff Writer Jessica Wehrman contributed to this report.