TOLEDO, Ohio -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for a business tax credit to create new jobs and a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures at a political rally in downtown Toledo yesterday -- part of what he called a middle-class rescue plan from an economic downturn he said is the worst since the Great Depression.

The Illinois senator said some parts of the plan should be implemented now, and, if not, they'll be a top priority if he is elected president.

"I'm proposing a number of steps that we should take immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities and help struggling homeowners," Mr. Obama said. "It's a plan that begins with one word that's on everyone's mind, and it's easy to spell: J-O-B-S, jobs."

Highlights of his plan include:

• A temporary tax credit of $3,000 for each new U.S. job a company creates over the next two years.

• New legislation that would allow families to withdraw 15 percent of their retirement savings -- up to a maximum of $10,000 -- without facing a 10 percent tax penalty this year (retroactive to Jan. 1) and next year.

• A 90-day foreclosure moratorium for homeowners making a good-faith effort to pay their mortgages.

• Calling on the Federal Reserve and the Treasury to work to establish a facility to lend to state and municipal governments.

Mr. Obama said his plan to allow people with 401(k)s to withdraw as much as $10,000 without penalty extends an idea that Mr. McCain proposed last week to waive rules that require senior citizens at age 70 to start withdrawing from their 401(k)s even when the market is bad. "I have to give credit where credit is due," the Democrat said.

Mr. Obama spoke at SeaGate Convention Center before 3,100 supporters. At one point, the crowd booed when Mr. McCain's name was mentioned, but his Democratic rival immediately scolded them. "No, we don't need that," he said. "All we need to do is vote."

But he served up plenty of political criticism of the Arizona Republican. "Senator McCain may be worried about losing the election, but I'm worried about you losing your jobs, you losing your homes, you losing your life savings," Mr. Obama said.

The Illinois senator said much of his plan could be accomplished with authority that Congress has right now, and other parts could be done in a lame-duck session.

Mr. Obama is also asking Congress to "fast-track" $25 billion in loan guarantees to the struggling Big Three automakers, and to enact another $25 billion in guarantees. He has also proposed changing bankruptcy laws to allow judges to reduce the cost of a residential mortgage.

Yet he ventured to suggest that citizens aren't completely without blame in the economic meltdown. "If we're honest with ourselves, everyone was living beyond their means -- from Wall Street to Washington to even some on Main Street," he said.

Mr. Obama and his GOP opponent have traded economic plans over the past week. Mr. McCain called for a $300 billion plan for buying up failed mortgages at face value, which Mr. Obama promptly attacked as a bailout for investors, at taxpayer expense.

Yesterday, the McCain camp targeted the Obama plan for his failure to "promise to stop pursuing his massive tax increases." McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said, "It is clear that the economy is hurting, that Americans need across-the-board tax relief, and yet Barack Obama has proven unwilling to break with the left-wing of his party and stand up for the American taxpayer."

Christopher Brown, 19, a University of Toledo sophomore business major, said he went into the Obama rally "somewhat undecided," and came out "80 percent" committed to the Democrat because of his emphasis on jobs and small business.

Mr. Brown's friend, Paul Gordon, 19, said he would definitely vote for Mr. Obama because he needs the help the candidate proposes for lowering college tuition and health care costs.

Mr. Obama yesterday was in the second day of a political retreat at Maumee Bay State Park lodge in Oregon, about 10 miles from Toledo, to prepare for tomorrow's debate against Mr. McCain at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y.