Even as more violence hit Iraq, the three major candidates for President were focusing on what definitely is the number one issue for voters, the economy.

Barack Obama got the top billing with a speech in Manhattan on Thursday, where he called for greater oversight of US financial markets.

Hillary Clinton meanwhile offered up an over two billion dollar job re-training program, while her staff belittled Obama's call for a second stimulus plan.

"OBAMA COPIES HILLARY'S SECOND STIMULUS" thundered the headline from another one of the many campaign emails hitting my inbox these days.

(This reporter though is still waiting to get anything but schedule information and news releases from Barack Obama.  I spoke to another very nice person in the Obama press office who again assured me that they would try.)

Oddly enough though, Clinton never mentioned Obama's name during an economic speech that she gave in North Carolina, instead rapping McCain and the GOP as she began a six day focus on the economy in three states.

As for the Republicans, they were more than happy to lob some verbal grenades right back at the Dems over their latest economic offerings.

"Obama and Clinton's economic plans are what you expect from two senators who think that big government is the solution for just about every problem," said Alex Conant of the Republican National Committee.

(Talk about someone who churns out emails - the RNC must have about 100 things in their "Drafts" folder, just ready and waiting for the right moment for Conant and his cohorts hit the "Send" button.)

Meanwhile, John McCain made sure he got a few licks in as well on how best to address the mortgage crisis in America.

"What is not necessary is a multi-billion dollar bailout for big banks and speculators as Senators Clinton and Obama have proposed," McCain said.

Somehow the Idaho Republican Party managed to get ahold of my email and blessed my Inbox with a Thursday screed of its own on the Democrats.

"OBAMA VOWS CHANGE - FOR YOUR TAXES" was the headline from Idaho GOP Chairman J. Kirk Sullivan.

"It looks to me like he's changing the definition of 'tax break' to mean 'tax hike,' and the definition of 'middle class' to mean 'rich,'" said Sullivan.

In other words, look for this to be repeated in various ways about a billion more times before November, as the GOP will definitely drag out the ole "They want to raise your taxes" argument about the Democrats in 2008, no matter their standardbearer.