By Deborah Charles
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Democratic presidentialnominee Barack Obama warned the elderly on Saturday thatRepublican rival John McCain would put their retirement incomein danger.
Obama told a Washington gathering of AARP, an interestgroup that represents the elderly, that McCain would go beyondPresident George W. Bush's rejected plan to allow people toinvest some of their Social Security funds.
Obama said McCain has embraced that proposal, calledprivatizing, and "gone even further, suggesting that the bestanswer to the growing pressures on Social Security might be tocut cost-of-living adjustments or raise the retirement age."
"I will not do either," he said in remarks delivered to thegroup by satellite, trying again to link McCain with theunpopular president.
McCain, a senator from Arizona who got the Republicanpresidential nomination this week in St. Paul, Minnesota, alsowas to address the same group by satellite later in the day.
In his hard-fought nominating campaign, Obama lost theelderly vote to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. That voting blocis considered one of the areas where Clinton excelled thatObama needs to win over.
Now that the nominating conventions are over, thecandidates have less than two months until the November 4election to make their case to the American public.
Obama, an Illinois senator who would be the country's firstblack president, criticized McCain and the Republicans for notdiscussing issues or offering an outline for the future attheir convention, which ended on Thursday night.
"He's not offering much change, that's why you didn't hearmuch about his plans for the future this week," Obama said.
He said his whole campaign was about the future "andsecuring your future starts with protecting Social Security --today, tomorrow and forever."
Social Security provides a monthly check to the country'selderly and disabled. Obama said more than half of seniorsdepend on it for more than half of their income.
With the campaign going full tilt, Obama, McCain andObama's vice presidential choice, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, allscheduled appearances on the Sunday television talk showcircuit.
Only McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, wasnot scheduled. Since she was made the surprise pick for the No.2 spot a week ago she has not given any media interviews.
She did deliver the campaign's weekly radio address onSaturday, repeating many of the points she made in her speechat the Republican convention and stressing her record of reformas governor.
(Writing by David Wiessler; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
