New Obama ad hits McCain on education.

(CNN) — The Obama campaign released a new ad Tuesday linking education policy to economics and painting John McCain as “out of touch and behind the learning curve,” according to the campaign.

The ad, the second negative spot of the week from the Democratic presidential campaign, comes as Barack Obama starts the day with a stop at an Ohio high school and delivers a major education policy address.

Earlier: Obama ad: McCain-Palin team "No Maverick"

“When they grow up, will the economy be strong enough?” asks the announcer in the 30-second spot, titled ‘What Kind.’

“Barack Obama understands what it takes to make America No. 1 in education again. John McCain doesn’t understand.

“John McCain voted to cut education funding. Against accountability standards. He even proposed abolishing the Department of Education. And John McCain’s economic plan gives two hundred billion more to special interests while taking money away from public schools.

“We can’t afford more of the same,” the announcer continues, as the screen fades to the traditional closing image of McCain and President Bush together.

The campaign did not say where the ad buy was airing, or how significant it might be.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign accused the Obama team of making misleading claims in the new ad. “Without a single achievement on education reform, Barack Obama has resorted to a desperate attack with absolutely no basis in fact. John McCain has proposed new education reforms to empower parents and students while reducing the influence of the unions and government bureaucrats that support Barack Obama’s candidacy," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

"Nothing that John McCain has proposed would reduce funding for public schools, but in fact he has pledged additional funds to improve education — and Barack Obama knows it.”

Sen. Obama announces his education reform plan in New Hampshire Tuesday.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama spent the day traveling the Granite State unveiling his education plan. Here’s how the day kicked off:

7:45 AM: Leave my hotel room en route to Manchester Central High School.

8:150-8:30 AM: Desperately search for parking on the street. I won't be back until 10:30PM, and all the street spaces are two-hour metered parking. I end up negotiating a spot with the convenience store across the street from the school. Thank you!

8:30-9 AM: Press members gather in the filing room. The Obama campaign supplies a healthy breakfast.

9 AM: Manchester Central High School. The press waits in the filing room until 9:04 AM. Then we’re escorted into the main hall, speech begins soon thereafter.

9:09 AM: First signs of snow flurries!

9:15 AM: Obama rolls out his plan to improve the American education system. He says the current system is "morally unacceptable for our children," and he discusses his own story. "Even though my mother didn't have a lot of money, scholarships gave me the chance to go to some of the best schools in the country." He continues, "I want to give every American child the same chances that I had." His plan includes: reforming No Child Left Behind, instituting affordable early education, actively recruiting and developing teachers through training and rewarding incentives, and developing new metric assessments to better assess and measure learning.

9:46 AM: Speech ends. Snow is falling hard now.

– CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

Edwards unveiled his education plan Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) – Speaking with reporters after outlining his plan for education reform, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said his proposal would cost an estimated $7 billion the first year and would "escalate over time."

The Democratic presidential candidate said the funding would come from taxes that are not currently being collected, particularly capital gains taxes because "brokerage houses are not reporting capital gains."

A significant portion of Edwards' education plan includes provisions to overhaul "No Child Left Behind," but when asked why he is criticizing NCLB now after having voted for it back in 2001 as a sitting senator, Edwards told CNN said that NCLB was a good concept, but that President Bush has "failed to fund it." He also questioned the effectiveness of the law's testing requirements.

"My nine year old Emma Claire finished third grade in public school this past year," he said. "She spent half a year preparing for the integrated test … She had a terrific teacher, but it was clearly intrusive into the learning process."

In addition to NCLB reform, Edwards is also calling for universal preschool for four-year-olds, increasing teacher pay, and creating a national teacher university.

Related: Edwards calls for 'West Point' for teachers

-CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch

Edwards will lay out his education plan Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards will outline his plan for education reform Friday, in what his campaign is calling a "major policy speech" at a middle school in Des Moines.

The Democratic presidential hopeful's proposal includes overhauling "No Child Left Behind," creating universal preschool for four-year-olds, increasing teacher pay, and creating a national teacher university, according to his campaign.

Edwards' plan includes placing more specific reforms into three broad
categories: preparing children to succeed when they show up in the classroom, giving each classroom an excellent teacher, and making sure every teacher works in an outstanding school.

"I grew up in a small, rural town and my parents didn't have a lot of money," Edwards will say, according to advanced copy of his remarks provided to CNN. "But I was lucky to have public school teachers who taught me to believe that somebody from a little town in North Carolina could do just about anything if he worked hard and played by the rules."

Read the rest of this entry »