[media-credit name=’ALEX BROUSSEAU’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

More than a thousand supporters showed their Republican pride Thursday as Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin addressed the crowd in a town-hall style meeting.

McCain and Palin focused on “straight talking” to the people about their plans to repair the economy and “victoriously” bring soldiers home from Iraq.

“Our opponent continually wants to look backward because that is where you find blame for some of the challenges that America is facing today,” Palin said. “But we’re going to join you in looking forward because that’s where America is going to find its solutions.”

The candidates challenged Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s reform policies and said Obama is opposed to helping the homeowners of America. McCain also accused Obama of taking a large sum of money from mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Tommy Vietor, spokesperson for the Obama campaign, refuted McCain’s allegations and accused McCain of launching personal remarks rather than concentrating on the issues at hand.

“It’s now clear that John McCain would rather launch angry, personal attacks than … defend his risky bailout plan that hands over billions in taxpayer dollars to the same irresponsible Wall Street banks and lenders that got us into this mess,” Vietor said.

McCain vowed to return the money lost in the economy back to the people of America through his mortgage plan.

“Let’s go out and find people who cannot stay in their homes, buy their mortgages and give them mortgages that they can afford so they can stay in their homes and make the payments,” McCain said.

McCain said he wants to give Americans a $5,000 refundable tax credit so they can obtain a health insurance policy of their choice.

Alec Loftus, communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said that would cost taxpayers more money in the end.

“McCain’s new plan would reward irresponsible mortgage lenders at taxpayers’ expense, and it would possibly be the largest taxpayer fund to hand out to irresponsible lenders in U.S. history,” Loftus said.

The topic of abortion, which has not been addressed in previous presidential debates, was also discussed. McCain noted his anti-abortion record in contrast to Obama’s stance on the issue.

“I don’t know if you heard, but when Rick Warren asked Sen. Obama about the issue he said, ‘It’s above my pay-grade,'” McCain said.

Palin also claimed Obama refused to provide health support for children who were born as the result of an unsuccessful abortion.

On the topic of offshore drilling, Palin denied allegations that 75 percent of the drilling in Alaska is being exported to China. She also emphasized the need to drill more offshore, denying Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden’s accusation that offshore drilling is “raping the outer continental shell.”

In light of recent incidents of voter fraud in Wisconsin, McCain said the issues should be investigated but that “no one should block the most precious right we have, and that is the right to vote.”

Palin expressed frustration with Obama’s vote against funding the troops that are already in the war zone. She called on Obama’s “incapability” of reciting the word “victory” in regard to the Iraq war, when McCain’s primary goal as president would be to bring troops home with “victory.”