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RALEIGH — Quickly donning the mantel of "presumptive Democratic presidential nominee," Sen. Barack Obama used a campaign stop here Monday to lambaste his Republican rival, John McCain, for his "full-throated endorsement of George Bush's policies."

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Speaking to an invitation-only crowd at the State Fairgrounds, Obama repackaged several of his short-term economic proposals into a single plan, promising to lay out longer-term solutions next week. Woven throughout his remarks were jabs at McCain designed to link the Arizona senator to President Bush, whose approval rating as measured by opinion surveys is at or near historic lows.

"We did not arrive at the doorstep of our current economic situation by some accident of history," Obama said, recounting a litany of woes, such as rising fuel and food prices and the loss of jobs. "This was not an inevitable part of the business cycle that was beyond our power to avoid. It was the logical conclusion of a tired and misguided philosophy that has dominated Washington for far too long."

He called for immediate steps to alleviate economic strains on poor and middle-income Americans, saying that "such relief can't wait until the next president takes office."

Among his ideas, Obama said that the country was due for another round of economic stimulus payments similar to ones Americans started receiving in May. He claimed ownership of the idea, saying that his campaign put out a call for such payment before the administration and Congress took action.

Obama also called for a $10 billion investment in staving off foreclosures and changing tax policy to help those making less than $40,000 a year make mortgage payments.

Beyond the policy debate, Obama's return to North Carolina gave the Democratic nominee a chance to mend and strengthen ties with the state's Democrats.

He was introduced by Gov. Mike Easley , who endorsed Obama's chief rival for the nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton , in the final stages of the primary here.

During the Democrats' Jefferson-Jackson dinner, held just before the May 6 primary , Easley was booed and jeered for his support of Clinton. The heckling was unusual and considered untoward by Clinton supporters as well as some long time Democrats who believed more respect should be accorded a two-term governor.

But on Monday there were nothing but cheers as Easley took the stage.

"I want to start by saying I know I'm late, but I'm on the train," Easley said. "Hey, I'd rather be a bum in the boxcar of the Obama train than in the front of the bus with John McCain, I can tell you that."

Obama and Easley mugged for the cameras before Obama thanked the governor for his support.

Obama also acknowledged former Sen. John Edwards, an early rival for the Democratic nomination, and his wife, Elizabeth, who were sitting in the crowd.

Although the former senator endorsed Obama after the North Carolina primary, Elizabeth Edwards had said several times that she preferred Clinton's health care proposal. Still, she smiled and waved as the newly minted standard bearer promised to work with her on health policy.

After speaking in North Carolina, Obama moved on to Missouri, a state that has not voted Democratic since voters ch ose President Clinton in 1996.

During his speech, Obama likened McCain's tax cut proposals and war spending plans to Bush's, saying McCain's plans would drive up the national debt while doing little to help poor and middle-income taxpayers.

"We can't afford four more years of skewed priorities that give us nothing but record debt," Obama said.

Republicans were quick to counter-punch against Obama's speech, sending out e-mails criticizing Obama's speech before he began delivering it.

As well, Sen. Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican and close ally of McCain's, held a conference call with reporters to deconstruct Obama's message.

"I think that there are certain things that the American voters can predict, and raising taxes on the part of Senator Obama is a pretty certain thing," Burr said. "Senator McCain has been very bold in his pledge to keep taxes low, to cut the corporate tax rate in this country."

Obama seemingly anticipated some of the Republican attacks.

"John McCain takes great pride in saying he's a fiscal conservative. He's already signaled that he will try to define me with the same old tax-and-spend label that his side have been throwing around for decades at Democrats," Obama said.

"But let's look at the facts. John McCain once said he couldn't vote for the Bush tax cuts in good conscience because they were too skewered toward the wealthiest Americans. ...These same Bush tax cuts are now his central economic policy."

Beyond the battle over economic policy, Obama's appearance here reinforced promises he made during the primary to fight for North Carolina during the general election.

It has been 32 years since a Democrat running for president won North Carolina in the general election, and many national political analysts have said the state is solidly in the Republican column. But in assessments written during the past two weeks, some pundits have revised those estimates, saying that at the very least Obama could force McCain to spend money here rather than in more competitive states.

"I think both Virginia and North Carolina hold some real possibilities for him," said Mac McCorkle, a political consultant who works for both Easley and Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, who is running to succeed Easley.

By choosing to mount the first appearance of his general election campaign here rather than in Ohio or other traditional battleground states, McCorkle said Obama was sending a message that he would not limit himself come fall.

"Coming to North Carolina says we can come to the South and we can compete," he said.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com.