And on the campaign trail, both Democratic candidates gave major addresses Thursday to tout their economic policies. In North Carolina, Senator Hillary Clinton called for a new federal program to retrain laid-off workers. Clinton said she would stand up to corporate interests.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: “The oil companies, the predatory student loan companies, the insurance companies and the drug companies have had seven years of a president who stands up for them. I will be a president who stands up for all of you. And it is past time that we set our priorities straight and level the playing field for the middle class and against the corporate special interests. It’s time for a president who is ready on day one to be the commander-in-chief of our economy.”

Meanwhile, here in New York, Senator Barack Obama called for an additional $30 billion in federal economic aid and said he would increase regulation of financial markets. Obama also criticized Republican candidate John McCain for advocating a limited federal role in the economy.

Sen. Barack Obama: “John McCain recently announced his own plan, and unfortunately it amounts to little more than watching this crisis unfold. While this is consistent with Senator McCain’s determination to run for George Bush’s third term, it won’t help families that are suffering, and it won’t help lift our economy out of recession.”