Dems focus on McCain's LIHEAP votes

ROCHESTER-- Over the past two days, Democrats have been criticizing U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) votes against increasing funding for a home heating assistance program.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides funding to citizens who need help paying their home oil bills. Democrats say McCain has voted against increased funding five times.

Hours after McCain finished his town hall meeting in Rochester, the Obama campaign held a conference call with U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth.)

"John McCain, he probably doesn't talk about this when he's in the cold weather states like ours, but he's voted against LIHEAP funding five times since 2005. Senator Obama has voted to increase LIHEAP five times since 2005," Leahy said.

Norelli focused on McCain's voting record on women's issues and health care bills.

"I think there is a very stark choice for voters here in New Hampshire if they know the voting record of the candidates," Norelli said.

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, state Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord) and state Sens. Jackie Cilley (D-Barrington) and Kathleen Sgambati (D-Tilton) held a press conference to discuss McCain's LIHEAP voting record.

"John McCain is out of touch with Granite Staters. John McCain supports spending $10 billion a month in Iraq but votes against helping hard working families to afford to heat their homes," Larsen said. "Hard working Americans should not have to choose between putting food on their tables and heating their homes. We can't afford four more years of failed Bush-McCain economic policies."