Your Money: McCain vs. Obama

· Originally pledged to balance budget by 2013. But McCain adviser now says it will take longer.

· Slow growth in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid spending.

· Eliminate funds for pet projects, known as earmarks.

· Help pay for tax cuts by creating new jobs in the clean energy sector and developing new automotive technologies, which in turn will boost economic growth.

"Government spending has gone completely out of control; $10 trillion dollar debt we're giving to our kids, a half-a-trillion dollars we owe China. I know how to save billions of dollars in defense spending. I know how to eliminate programs."

-- McCain*

· Enforce budget rules that would require that new spending be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue.

· Reduce spending on earmarks to no greater than 2001 levels and require more transparency on such spending.

· Help pay for new proposals by drawing down troops in Iraq war, raising taxes on high-income filers and cutting certain corporate loopholes.

"Once we get through this economic crisis ... we're not going to be able to go back to our profligate ways. We're going to have to embrace a culture and an ethic of responsibility, all of us, corporations, the federal government, and individuals out there who may be living beyond their means."

-- Obama**