PlusEconomy, Now Front and Center in '08 RaceEconomy, Now Front and Center in '08 RaceThe Associated PressAs democrat Barack Obama launches a two week campaign series focusing on the economy, Republican John McCain fired back today, saying Obama is bad for business and will implement large amounts of taxes. (June 10)SOT:" McCain 9:43 -- In the general election, the real debate over economic policy will begin, and it's begun in earnest." It certainly has. The number one issue on voters' minds is now the number one campaign issue: the slumping economy. Tuesday, speaking to small-business owners in Washington, John McCain attacked on taxes. SOT: McCain will we enact the single greatest tax increase as my opponent proposes or keep taxes low Minutes later, in St. Louis -- Barack Obama hit back.SOT: I want to respond to a speech that Senator McCain gave this morning // Let me be clear, my tax plan will cut taxes for 95% of workers. Obama plans to keep hitting back - starting a two-week sweep through battleground states talking about money. SOT: In some of these places, people are really hurting, not just because of high gas prices, but because for years, they've been facing a tough economy [Notes:take graphic] In a nutshell - here's how the two stack up: Obama is calling for a 50-billion dollar economic stimulus package. The creation of a 10-billion dollar fund to ward off home foreclosures -- And middle-class tax cuts for families earning 150-thousand or less. [Notes:take graphic]McCain's economic plan also calls for cutting taxes for the middle class -- particularly repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. But McCain would also sharply reduce tax rates on corporate profits, and make almost all of the Bush tax cuts permanent. McCain would also like to suspend the gas tax for the summer and form a Justice Department task force to look into wrongdoing in the mortgage industry.SOT: the thing that stands out is a fundamental approach to economic policy - McCain is largely buying into the Bush idea, of trickle-down theory, Obama argues that that doesn't work -- more direct role in trying to re-connect the economy to the families in it. What's yet to be seen, how the candidates really plan to pay for their plans. ___ ___, The Associated Press.