Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama and John McCain, fresh from their first presidential debate, resumed campaigning today, with Obama calling his rival ``out of touch,'' as congressional leaders continued talks on a $700 billion bank-bailout plan.

Democratic presidential nominee Obama reunited with running-mate Joe Biden in Greensboro, North Carolina, where they highlighted the fact that the Republican candidate didn't once use the term ``middle class'' during last night's debate, which focused on the economy and foreign policy.

``We talked about the economy for 40 minutes, and not once did Senator McCain talk about the struggles of middle-class families,'' Obama told the 20,000 person crowd at an outdoor rally. ``Senator McCain just doesn't get it.''

Obama delivered largely the same speech this evening in Fredericksburg, Virginia where, alongside Biden, the Illinois senator spoke for 27 minutes in the pouring rain, only stopping for a moment to roll up his sleeves and take off his suit jacket as the rains increased.

Quick on his feet, Obama incorporated a number of weather puns and metaphors into the economic stump speech he's been delivering this week. He acknowledged the rain even as the seemingly oblivious and captivated 26,000 drenched students and locals at the University of Mary Washington stayed and cheered through the remarks.

`Trickle Down'

Mocking McCain for his trickle-down economic theories, Obama joked that the Arizona senator thinks that ``prosperity is going to trickle down, like this shower here, like manna from heaven.''

Obama began by thanking the crowd, who had been standing and waiting in earlier rain showers, for his arrival. He dangled a special, albeit brief, offer for ``those of you who were wearing that special outfit.''

``I'd like to cover everybody's dry cleaning bills tonight,'' Obama deadpanned. ``But I can't, because I've got to use it on the campaign, so consider it one more modest contribution to our efforts to change the country.''

McCain this evening addressed a sporting convention in Columbus, Ohio, via satellite television. He also pivoted off the debate, telling the 12th annual U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance's Save Our Heritage conference that Obama would ``impose massive new taxes,'' even though Obama said last night no one making less than $250,000 a year would face a tax hike under his proposals.

Campaign Headquarters

McCain also said Obama was exploiting the credit crisis for political gain. ``What he doesn't seem to get is that if we don't deal with it right now, by working together for the common good, then this crisis could turn into a far-reaching disaster for workers, businesses, retirees, and the American middle class,'' McCain said. Both men broke off the campaign trail Sept. 25 to attend a meeting of top officials at the White House.

McCain spent much of the day at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, on the telephone, consulting with lawmakers and economists about the bailout plan being negotiated in Congress.

During one such call, which took place during a photo-op, McCain told Republican Congressman Chip Pickering of Mississippi that he was happy with his own performance during the Oxford, Mississippi debate.

Republican Lawmakers

``I was a little disappointed the media called it a tie. But I think that means when they call it a tie that means we win,'' McCain said.

He spoke with President George W. Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and various Republican lawmakers, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senators Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Jon Kyl of Arizona, House Republican Leader John Boehner and House Republican Whip Roy Blunt, his campaign said.

Obama today also spoke with Paulson, House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who updated him on the progress of talks on a White House proposal to buy bad debts of financial companies to unfreeze credit markets.

The Illinois senator at the rally reiterated four principles he wants included in a final agreement: curbs on executive pay, an independent oversight board, aid for struggling homeowners and a provision to give taxpayers a share of any profit from the purchase and subsequent sale of distressed assets.

Montana Bears

McCain ``railed against some study on bears in Montana,'' Obama said. ``But he had nothing to say about the fact that more and more Americans can't afford to pay for their college education, can't afford health care for their families, can't afford a retirement that is dignified and secure.''

McCain's campaign accused Obama of having ``selective memory,'' saying Obama has a record of raising taxes.

``If he was honest, Barack Obama knows he was unable to debate the merits of supporting higher taxes on the middle class and bloated government spending during a looming economic crisis,'' campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

McCain, who returned to Washington at 3 a.m. today, arrived at his campaign headquarters shortly after noon. He consulted with lawmakers by telephone while also discussing campaign business with aides, said Mark Salter, a senior campaign official.

McCain did not visit the Capitol today ``because he can effectively do what he needs to do by phone,'' Salter said. ``He's calling members on both sides, talking to people in the administration, helping out as he can.''

Obama Wins Polls

``We hope to have a deal in place so we can get back on the trail,'' Salter said. That could be as early as Monday morning.

Polls by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. and CBS News/Knowledge Networks found Obama bested McCain in the debate. The CNN telephone poll of 524 adults who watched the debate found 51 percent said Obama did the best job, while 38 percent said McCain did.

The CBS online poll of 483 uncommitted voters found 39 percent said Obama won, 24 percent said McCain did, and 37 percent said it was a tie. The CNN poll's margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, while the CBS survey's margin of error is 4 percentage points.

Both campaigns today tried capitalizing on the debate, releasing ads about what their rivals did or didn't say. A new Obama ad that will air on national cable television beginning Sept. 29 is called ``Zero,'' and notes the number of times McCain mentioned ``middle class.''

Internet Ad

McCain's campaign released an Internet ad emphasizing the eight times Obama said McCain was ``right'' on various policy issues. Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said he was ``puzzled'' that McCain's campaign ``went in that direction.''

``Only someone in Washington for 26 years would put that ad out,'' Plouffe told reporters on a conference call.

Obama will spend the night in Washington, before traveling to Detroit, Michigan tomorrow. Biden returns to his home state of Delaware.

The next big date on the political calendar is the first vice presidential debate on Oct. 2 between Delaware Senator Biden and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The second presidential debate Oct. 8 is a town hall format. Obama's campaign is already trying to lower expectations. McCain is the ``undisputed champion of town halls,'' Plouffe said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Julianna Goldman in Greensboro, North Carolina at 654- 4304 or jgoldman6@bloomberg.net; Edwin Chen in Washington at hen32@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: September 27, 2008 20:59 EDT