NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Democrat Barack Obama sharply criticized Republican John McCain’s health care proposals Saturday, saying they could force millions of Americans to struggle to buy medical insurance.
Turning to an issue that has faded somewhat during the economic crisis, Obama gave an unusually detailed outline of his own plans in a 40-minute speech. He would make coverage more affordable to most Americans, he said, paying for the subsidies largely by canceling the Bush administration’s tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year.
In a sign that the presidential campaign’s final month may have a nastier tone, Obama called McCain’s health plan “radical,” and Republican officials accused Obama of lying.
McCain spent Saturday at a resort hotel in Sedona, Ariz., preparing for his second debate Tuesday with Obama.
