COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Barack Obama traveled to Colorado Springs on Wednesday to call for expanding service programs like the Peace Corps and starting a new volunteer corps for environment and energy projects.
Obama, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, planned a speech before an invitation-only audience at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
He also scheduled a private fundraiser later Wednesday.
In prepared remarks, Obama said he would expand the Peace Corps, Americorps and USA Freedom Corps and start a new Energy Corps. He also said he would ask veterans to help other veterans find jobs and services, and to help military families.
Obama also pledged to increase the nation’s Foreign Service and reopen consulates in other nations.
It was Obama’s third visit to Colorado this year, after previous stops in January and May.
The state voted Republican in the 2004 presidential election, but a poll of Colorado voters released last week showed Obama ahead of Republican John McCain by 5 percentage points.
Although Colorado has only nine electoral votes, it could play a significant role in this year’s elections because it’s one of about a dozen states believed to have the potential to switch columns.
Before Obama’s appearance, state GOP leaders accused him of reversing his positions and “plunging to the middle” on such issues as federal funding for church-based social programs.
Obama said Tuesday he wants to expand White House efforts to steer social service dollars to religious groups.
“You really don’t know where Sen. Obama is on the issues,” Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams said in a conference call with reporters.
Wadhams and state Rep. Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs criticized Obama for restricting Wednesday event to invited guests.
