McCain, Obama Pitch Economic Plans to Hispanics

John McCain and Barack Obama each reached out to the critical constituency of Hispanic voters today. The rivals pressed anew their support for comprehensive immigration reform in separate speeches to the League of United Latin American Citizens. But each candidate was primarily focused on making the case that he—not his opponent—could best lead the country out of economic straits and help the middle class achieve prosperity.

""At its core, the economy isn't the sum of an array of bewildering statistics," McCain said. "It's about the aspirations of the American people to build a better life for their families; dreams that begin with a job." Obama struck a similar chord as he praised the Hispanic community for having "big dreams and a big heart." He said the election is about "making sure that we have a government that knows that a problem facing any American is a problem facing all Americans." (More John McCain stories.)