Obama Agrees With McCain on 'Fundamentals'

Campaigning today in Westminster, Colorado, Sen. Barack Obama effectively abandoned his criticism of rival Sen. John McCain over the fundamentals of the economy. Obama had been hitting McCain hard for his statement from two weeks ago that the "fundamentals of our economy are strong." But today, in remarks about the current financial crisis, Obama agreed with McCain, saying, "After this immediate problem, we've got the long-term fundamentals to really make sure this economy grows."



Besides canceling out his campaign message, the remarks were ill-timed, coming as they did on a day when the House failed to pass a financial markets bailout, and the Dow Jones average dropped nearly 700 points. But that wasn't the only gaffe in Sen. Obama's statement today.

Earlier in the same speech, Obama criticized McCain for the fundamentals comment, saying that the remark showed McCain, "just doesn't get it." It appears Sen. Obama was against the fundamentals of the economy before he was for them. And the prepared remarks Obama was set to deliver initially praised the House for passing the bailout plan, calling it, "the best and only way to prevent an economic catastrophe." That line was hastily scratched, after 95 Democrats in the House voted against the bill.