By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama promised at their second debate on Tuesday to help middle-class Americans fearful about their futures facing what Obama called the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
"Americans are angry, they're upset and they're a little fearful," McCain said in the debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. "We don't have trust and confidence in our institutions."
Obama said middle-class workers, not just Wall Street, needed a rescue package that would include tax cuts. Obama said the U.S. government should ensure Wall Street executives do not benefit from bonus payments from failing companies.
"We are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and a lot of you I think are worried about your jobs, your pensions, your retirement accounts," he said.
Obama has solidified his national lead in polls ahead of the November election and gained an edge in crucial battleground states in recent weeks as the Wall Street crisis focussed attention on the economy, an area where polls show voters prefer the Illinois senator's leadership.
The economic turmoil continued on Tuesday, with stocks tumbling for the second consecutive day in a sign the $700 billion (401 billion pound) bailout of U.S. financial institutions did not ease market concerns about the economy.
Asked about a possible Treasury secretary under their administrations, both candidates mentioned Omaha's legendary investor Warren Buffett, a supporter of Obama.
Polls judged Obama the winner of the first debate two weeks ago, but Tuesday's debate was conducted in a looser town hall format where questions were asked by the audience -- a favourite setting for McCain and a staple of his campaigns in the battle for the party nomination this year and in 2000.
About 100 undecided Nashville voters identified by the Gallup polling company posed the questions. The candidates sat on stools and were free to roam the stage.
(Editing by David Wiessler)
