TERRE HAUTE — Barack Obama managed to get in a few chuckles, and some jabs at his opponent, as he explained his plan for improving the nation’s economy during his most recent visit to the Wabash Valley on Saturday. The event took place at the 4-H Arena at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, a large, mostly enclosed barn structure, with between 900 and 1,000 people in the audience.

Sunshine and a light breeze filtered in on each side of the barn, where hay bales and Indiana state flags provided the backdrop to Obama’s first speech in the Wabash Valley since earning his party’s nomination.

The candidate appeared relaxed, wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and no tie.

A primary theme of the discussion was change. Obama criticized Sen. John McCain, the GOP candidate, for recently promoting change as part of his platform.

“Since the beginning of this campaign,” Obama said, “we’ve been talking about change. ... We must be on to something because I notice now everybody’s talking about change.”

Obama went on to say, “Let’s be absolutely clear about what change is and is not.”

For the next few minutes, Obama criticized various policies of the Bush administration, from taxes, to energy to health care and education, adding that the McCain campaign intends to continue most of those policies.

“Change is not continuing the same tax policies as George Bush, with tax breaks to the companies that are shipping jobs overseas,” Obama said.

“Change is making sure those tax breaks go to companies that are investing right here in Terre Haute, in Indiana, in the United States of America.

“Change is not saying that we’ve made great economic progress under George Bush ... change is giving a tax cut to 95 percent of Americans as I propose,” he said.

To great applause, Obama said, “Change is not a health care plan ... that says we’re going to end tax deductions for employers that give health care benefits to their employees - which means that the employer will stop providing health care - and then giving you a $5,000 credit to buy your own health care, except it costs $12,000 to $14,000.

“Here’s what change is - saying to people who already have health insurance and to employers who are providing it, we’ll work to lower your premiums ... and if you don’t have health insurance you can get the same kind of health care that members of Congress get themselves, and investing in prevention so people aren’t going to the emergency room for treatable illnesses,” Obama continued.

Obama added that he wants to work with the auto industry to create fuel-efficient vehicles, “right here in the United States of America, in Indiana, and in Michigan, and in Ohio.”

To create “five million new green energy jobs that cannot be exported,” Obama proposed converting old steel plants to factories that would make wind turbines and solar panels.

The candidate said he intends to invest $15 billion a year for 10 years “in wind power, and solar power, and biodiesel, and hydropower, and geothermal, and all the clean energy alternatives.”

As part of improving the nation’s economy, Obama said, the first step is to “clean up the mess” and stabilize the housing market, which has contributed to a decline in jobs, he said.

The second step is to “use our tax code in a smarter way,” Obama said. “When middle class folks get a tax cut, then the economy grows from the bottom up. We’ve tried this outdated thinking that says you give more and more to the top and somehow it trickles down, and that’s just not how the economy works.

Step three, Obama said, is to develop the “green jobs” he mentioned before, to replace lost jobs that have been sent overseas.

A fourth step is to reinvest in infrastructure. Obama stated that the country is in need of infrastructure repairs and development that would provide much-needed “public works” jobs for those in the construction trades who are out of work.

In addition, he hinted at a goal of developing a strong, nationwide train system, saying that travel by air and by car have become expensive and cumbersome.

“In the end, the most important thing we need to do for our economic health is to improve our education system,” he said.

In answering one audience member’s question about No Child Left Behind, Obama said that while the goal of higher standards is important, the legislation fails to provide funds for reaching the goal. In addition, he said, the assessment of student progress is based on “just a single, high-stakes standardized test.”

Obama said he wants to work with educators to reform No Child Left Behind, but that the other part of student achievement is not within the power of government.

“It’s up to parents,” he said.

The senator said he intends “to tie the issue of affording college with the issue of national service.

Obama also addressed the Iraq war, saying he has considered it “an enormous strategic blunder” from the beginning.

He reiterated his plans to begin bringing troops home over a 16-month period, and to require the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their government.

Obama ended his remarks Saturday by saying that currently the two candidates are essentially tied in the state. “Indiana, historically, in presidential elections, is very tough on Democrats,” he said, adding, “That goes to show you this here is a change election.”

The electoral votes of the state have not gone for a Democrat candidate since 1964. The latest Howey-Gauge Poll from Friday shows McCain leading Obama by two percentage points in Indiana.

Deb Kelly is a reporter for the Tribune Star of Terre Haute.