In news releases, conference calls and local street protests, Democrats and union groups have blamed McCain and Davis for backing the original deal, and accused McCain of ignoring the workers’ plight. During a campaign visit last month, Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, met with Wilmington’s mayor, David Raizk, and pledged his help if elected.

 McCain moved quickly to demonstrate his own concern Thursday, his second straight day of campaigning in a state he has called vital to his White House bid. After learning that the chairman of DHL, Frank Appel, had not agreed to meet local residents, McCain promised to write to the head of parent company Deutsche Post and invite him. Earlier Thursday, McCain used a town hall in Lima, Ohio, to step up his attacks on Obama.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain‘s signal that he may be open to a higher payroll tax for Social Security, despite previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind, is drawing sharp rebukes from conservatives.

McCain’s shift has come in stages, catching some Republicans by surprise. Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, he cited a need to shore up Social Security. “I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table,” he said.

He went a step farther Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” in response to a question about payroll tax increases.

“There is nothing that’s off the table. I have my positions, and I’ll articulate them. But nothing’s off the table,” McCain said. “I don’t want tax increases. But that doesn’t mean that anything is off the table.”

That comment drew a strong response from the Club for Growth, a Washington anti-tax group. McCain’s comments, the group said in a letter to the Arizona senator, are “shocking because you have been adamant in your opposition to raising taxes under any circumstances.”

During a town-hall meeting in Sparks, Nev., McCain insisted anew Tuesday that he would not raise taxes if elected.

He frequently has promised not to raise taxes.

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