DOVER—Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, addressed middle class tax issues and the economy last Friday, September 12th, at the McConnell Center to a small and intimate crowd.

Sen. Obama’s appearance clarified the differences between his and Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain’s stands on the economy and middle class. The objective was to facilitate decisions for still undecided voters.

“People know this country is on the wrong track,” Sen. Obama stated after former New Hampshire Governor, and hopeful Democratic senator, Jeanne Shaheen introduced him with the support of a local family. The anxious crowd unified and welcomed Sen. Obama.

Sen. Obama said the “working class family” eligible for his net tax cut was defined as one making less than $250,000. He then compared McCain’s plans to decrease corporate taxes to his own middle class tax cuts.

Sen. Obama summarized the past eight years as a failure of the American dream. He verbalized his disagreement with “trickle down economics,” a theory defined by Mr. Wallace, a history teacher at DHS, as “government gives incentives and tax breaks to big business and wealthy individuals to stimulate the economy and provide jobs, wages and benefits to the working and middle class.”

Sen. Obama joked, “Dover, how much has trickled down?” He spoke on “change” before detailing more on his middle class tax cuts, which he explained would help 95% of working Americans. He said the individual middle class worker would receive a $500 tax cut, while families will get a $1000 cut.

Sen. Obama recognized both the country’s economic situation as well as the average family’s struggle to pay for gas and oil. He elaborated on college tuition where he said he will ensure the first $4,000 toward college tuition and back the first two-thirds of tuition. Community colleges for most students will be completely free. All credit is available at the “average public college or university,” for most Americans and is offered in exchange for 100 hours of community service.

Sen. Obama’s course of action for education includes investing in early childhood education, paying teachers more and matching younger teachers with older teachers. Sen. Obama envisions better use of technology and has plans to redesign curriculum. He said he has a “first class world class education” in mind.

Another issue addressed in Sen. Obama’s appearance was small business concerns. A tax code was mentioned after he took questions from the audience. In it, American jobs will be created while outsourcing will be eliminated. Sen. Obama promised “tougher regulations all across the board“ and received a standing ovation after enforcing “change doesn’t come from Washington; it comes to Washington.”

An audience member asked Obama how he was going to fight back on recent criticism attacking him. Sen. Obama responded that he will use a “different philosophy,” and said he is, “going to respond with the truth.” In his closing he promised, “America’s best days are ahead of us and not behind us.”