New York: Ahead of the crucial, perhaps decisive Pennsylvania Democratic primary on April 22, White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have trained guns at President George Bush's economic policies in this strong working class state.

Both Clinton and Obama in their campaigns launched scathing attacks on President Bush's policies and said McCain knows nothing about economy which is a major issue in this state struck hard by shuttered factories and thousands of lost jobs as manufacturing went abroad.

They say McCain could be manipulated by his advisers who might be the neoconservatives -- the pro-Iraq war camp. On his part, the Republican in a television appearance asserted he knew more about economy than either of the Democrats.

And while the free trade deals are important issue in this state of strong trade unions, North American FTA has become a difficult for Clinton to handle as husband Bill Clinton is a great advocate of the agreement which cost America and Pennsylvania much jobs.

Clinton on her part is repeatedly making herself clear as a critic of the deal. Expectedly, Bush s decision to suspend troop withdrawal from Iraq this summer has come in for sharp reaction from both Democratic candidates with each trying to project him or herself as more tough and having more will to bring the war to an early end.

Obama criticised Bush's policies and huge money being spent on war in Iraq for economic woes.
Source : PTI