John McCain/Economic Policy

Budget, spending and taxes
Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 88 percent in 2006, and the Citizens for Tax Justice 50 percent in 2005-2006.

Resources

 * JohnMcCain.com - Economic Plan

Trade issues
In 2005-2006 USA Engage gave Senator McCain a grade of A. In 2006, he voted for the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement and a trade agreement with Oman. He missed votes for the Peru-United States Free Trade Agreement in 2007 and the Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill (H.R.4040) in 2008.

Housing and mortgage issues
Senator McCain received a rating of 100 percent from the American Land Rights Association in 1995. He missed three of four housing-related votes in 2008, but did vote to approve the Economic Stimulus Bill of 2008.

Resources

 * JohnMcCain.com - Economic Plan

Business regulation and consumer protections
Senator McCain supported the interests of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee 80 percent and the National Association of Government Contractors 0 percent in 2006.

Resources

 * JohnMcCain.com - Economic Plan

Hurricane Katrina
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction of much of the city of New Orleans Obama became an advocate for federal funds to rebuild the city and the Gulf Coast while also stressing oversight of those funds. Obama also spoke out about the racial and class dynamics exposed by the Hurricane: "The incompetence [in the federal response to Katrina] was colorblind. What wasn't colorblind was the indifference. Human efforts will always pale in comparison to nature's forces. But [the Bush administration] is a set of folks who simply don't recognize what's happening in large parts of the country." Obama went to New Orleans with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to see the displaced citizens and the damage done to the city.

Obama threatened to call hearings on the slow response by the federal government and with Sen. Tom Coburn also called for President Bush to create a "chief financial officer to oversee Katrina spending." He ultimately proclaimed that the Hurricane was a "wake-up call" that should cause lawmakers to have "a serious conversation about poverty, which should not be a conversation that's caught up in the all the dogmas."

External resources

 * Project Vote Smart's database of Obama's interest group ratings, Obama's important votes, McCain's important votes and McCain's interest group ratings.