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CHARLESTON -- More than 600 people packed into a University of Charleston auditorium Thursday to hear Sen. Barack Obama criticize the war in Iraq and its effects on the American economy.

Obama, a Democrat from Illinois seeking his party's presidential nomination, spoke for nearly half an hour before a standing-room-only audience in Geary Auditorium about issues affecting the Mountain State as well as the rest of the country. Obama also made a stop in Beckley later in the day.

While it is important to remember those soldiers who died overseas, Obama said it is crucial that citizens do not overlook the war's impact on the American economy.

"At a time when we're on the brink of recession, when neighborhoods have 'For Sale' signs outside every home and working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs, ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war," he said. "When you're spending over $50 to fill up your car because the price of oil is four times what it was before Iraq, you're paying a price for this war."

Obama spoke about the importance of electing a Democratic president in November. If Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., is elected, Obama said, Americans cannot expect help for the middle class. Tax breaks, he said, will continue to aid the wealthy.

"Because of the Bush-McCain policies, our debt has ballooned. This is creating problems in our fragile economy. And that kind of debt also places an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren, who will have to repay it," he said. "John McCain seems determined to carry out a third Bush term."

In response to Obama's Charleston speech, McCain's Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker released a statement condemning Obama for being "fundamentally wrong" on the issues facing America.

"On the economy, Senator Obama offers the tired tax and spend ideas of the past. He promises higher taxes on middle class families at a time when they're hurting the most, and massive spending increases and big government programs sure to stifle the economic growth that produces jobs for hardworking Americans," she said.

She said Obama is rehashing the past regarding the war. "He has embraced an irresponsible policy of withdrawing our troops from Iraq without regard for the conditions on the ground, the advice of our military commanders or the consequences of failure, which his own top adviser called unrealistic," Hazelbaker said.

Obama promised Thursday to bring home the troops safely and provide them with the proper medical care they deserve. Instead of spending more than a half trillion dollars on a war in the Middle East, Obama said the next president needs to invest in a number of domestic projects.

He listed creating universal health care, making college more affordable, hiring more teachers and strengthening our infrastructure by rebuilding roads and bridges.

"These are the investments we could be making, all within the parameters of a more responsible and disciplined budget," he said.

Obama noted that the future investments are only possible if the troops in the Middle East come home safely. While they are serving overseas, Obama said, it is crucial to provide American military forces with enough troops and quality equipment to fight.

"The Army has said it will need $13 billion a year just to replace and repair all the equipment that's been broken or lost," he said. "So in the coming years, we won't just have to restore our military to its peak level of readiness. ... We'll also have to ensure that our soldiers are trained and equipped to confront the new threats of the 21st century and that our military can meet any challenge around the world."

When soldiers return from fighting, they deserve nothing but the best in medical care, he said. More needs to be done, he said, to understand the effects of post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury on soldiers returning from war.

"We'll have to keep our sacred trust with our veterans and fully fund the (Veterans Administration). We'll have to look after our wounded warriors, whether they're suffering from wounds seen or unseen," he said.

After speaking, posing for pictures and shaking hands with supporters, Obama gave an off-the-cuff speech in the Eddie King Gymnasium for about 300 supporters who were unable to get into the main auditorium. The short speech focused on the importance of young adults getting involved with the political process. Obama also urged the young crowd to help him campaign in West Virginia by volunteering.

Crowds began lining up for tickets to Obama's appearance at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center Arena early Thursday morning. By the time Obama took the stage late in the evening, the crowd acted more like they were at a rock concert, singing along to songs on the public address system and even doing the wave.

"Everything," Beckley resident Katrina Nabors responded when asked why she supports Obama. "I like everything about him. I really think he's a good man."

Beckley gave Obama a taste of the complexities of West Virginia politics when Chad Foreman of Fayetteville asked the candidate a question about mountaintop removal mining.

Obama's answer didn't give much red meat to either environmentalists or coal supporters, both of which had loud contingents in the audience.

He stressed the need for a balanced approach between environmental concern and preserving jobs.

"I'm not just going to take a bunch of contributions from the coal industry and do their bidding, any more than I would only listen to the environmentalists," Obama said. "I want to listen to everybody."

Obama is in a virtual dead heat with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic nomination. Clinton was in the state Wednesday, making stops in Huntington and Charleston.

A new poll released Thursday shows Sen. Hillary Clinton up 28 points in West Virginia.

According to the Rasmussen poll, Clinton is up 55 percent to 27 percent among likely Democratic voters ahead of West Virginia's May 13 presidential primary. The poll was taken March 13 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., talks as he eats a chicken wing at Murads' Sports Bar in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2008.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)