Obama Talks Economics, Takes Swipe At Palin During Indiana Speech

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Sen. Barack Obama offered his first direct criticism of Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin Saturday during a speech in Terre Haute, in which he focused mostly on the state of the economy.

Speaking to 800 people at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, Obama promised tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans during his first term.

"Change is not continuing the same tax policies of George Bush, giving tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas,” he told the crowd. “Change is making sure those tax breaks go to companies that are investing right here in Terre Haute, right here in the United States of America."

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Obama, who was accompanied by Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, also vowed to provide incentives to auto companies to develop electric cars and to create millions of jobs in wind and solar power.

Hoosiers attending the speech Saturday responded well to Obama’s message.

"He makes sense, you know? It's one of the first times I've heard a politician that makes sense,” Susan Monts-Bologna told 6News' Tanya Spencer.

Taking On Palin

During his speech, Obama took his first public swipe at Palin, ridiculing Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and his running mate for describing themselves as agents of change at this week's GOP convention.

Obama said Palin pretends to oppose federal earmarks but that she actually had embraced that spending, calling her a "skillful politician," and alleging that she had been "taking all those earmarks when it's convenient."

As governor of Alaska, Palin originally supported earmarks for a controversial project known as "the bridge to nowhere." She dropped her support after the state's share went up, but she hung onto 27 million dollars to build the approach road.

Plane Trouble

When Obama went to depart Terre Haute, plane trouble forced him to change charter planes -- the second time this year.

The public announcement system on Obama's leased 757 jet malfunctioned when the plane landed without incident in Terre Haute for a campaign event, campaign officials said.

Federal rules require planes carrying passengers to have working PA systems, so when Obama and his entourage left Terre Haute for Chicago Saturday afternoon, they had to switch to a smaller, 50-seat plane, campaign officials said.

In July, Obama's plane made an emergency landing in St. Louis when the pilot had trouble controlling the pitch of the MD-80 charter airliner.