DEMOCRATIC presidential nominee Barack Obama and his Republican counterpart John McCain unveiled duelling versions of how to kickstart the American economy, as data continues to point to slowing growth and rising joblessness.
Senator Obama, who was forced to make an unscheduled landing in St Louis, Missouri, after an escape slide deployed in his plane in mid-air, had been planning to deliver his plan for a second stimulus package for the US economy in North Carolina, a state that has been hit hard by the economic downturn.
Instead, he released his remarks, telling reporters that the economy needed a second stimulus package of $US50 billion ($A52.5 billion) that would provide energy rebate cheques for many families, a fund to help families avoid foreclosure and increased assistance for states hit hard by economic setbacks.
The campaign did not give details on how much each family could expect, but said it would not be paid for by immediate savings in government spending as this would defeat the purpose of injecting more cash into the economy.
He also highlighted his plans for tax cuts for those on moderate incomes, in contrast to those planned by Senator McCain, who will continue the current lower rate of tax for the highest paid beyond 2010 when it is due to expire.
Senator Obama said he would eliminate income tax for retirees making less than $US50,000 a year. People still working would be automatically enrolled "in a workplace pension plan that stays with you from job to job". For families earning less than $75,000, he plans for a matching 50% of the first $1000 deposited in the pension account.
But much of his economic speech on Monday was spent tying Senator McCain to President George Bush's record.
"John McCain's policies are essentially a repeat, a regurgitation, of what we've been hearing from the Republican Party over the last two decades, maybe three," he said.
"It's part of the reason that we're in the situation that we find ourselves in right now."
Senator McCain, meanwhile, spent the day focusing on his plan to boost jobs, warning that Senator Obama would raise taxes and so hurt job creation. He highlighted his plans for a cut in the corporate tax rate, from 35% to 25%.
Senator McCain has a delicate path to tread, as he is trying to distance himself from President Bush.
"This Congress and this Administration have failed to meet their responsibilities to manage the Government," he said in Denver. "Government has grown by 60% in the last eight years. That is simply inexcusable."
On petrol prices, Senator Obama has lampooned Senator McCain's plan for a gas tax holiday over summer, saying that would simply boost oil company profits.
■Virginia Democratic senator Jim Webb has said he has told the Obama campaign he is not interested in the vice-presidency, having so recently lived through the rigours of an election campaign.