Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama turned hiOs attention to the troubled US economy today after he surged to his largest ever lead over his Republican rival John McCain following his high-profile overseas tour.
Mr Obama will meet economic experts in Washington DC later in an attempt to halt the downward spiral of the US economy, the number one issue among American voters as they decide which candidate they will vote for in November’s election.
The latest Gallup Tracking Poll showed Mr Obama leading Mr McCain by nine points — the largest margin for the Illinois senator since Gallup began tracking the election race in March.
Mr Obama’s week-long trip to the Middle East and Europe, which was highly unusual for a US presidential hopeful, saw the 46-year-old hailed as an “impressive figure” who now has “an album of enviable images with generals, rank-and-file troops and world leaders” as he sought to boost his foreign policy credentials.
But following criticism that he was spending too much time overseas when Americans were facing serious problems at home, Mr Obama said he intended to shift his focus quickly toward the economy and other domestic issues in the coming days.
A new economic stimulus package may be his first legislative request if he takes office as the 44th president in January, he said.
He has also called for additional tax rebates and other measures to help revive the economy — issues which will be discussed today. Investor Warren Buffett, Google chairman Eric Schmidt, and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker will be at the meeting, along with former Clinton administration officials.
AP