Obama rallies in Colorado, says Congress will produce a bailout bill

September 29, 2008 - 10:06AM

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WESTMINSTER - Democrat Barack Obama called on Congress to stay in Washington and pass a bailout for the hobbled financial industry, minutes after the House rejected the latest plan.
"One of the message I have for Congress: Get it done," Obama said.

The Democratic presidential candidate said he's confident Congress will eventually work out something, however. "I'm confident we're going to get there, but it's going to be rocky," the Illinois senator said.

Obama had planned to return to Washington for a Senate vote. Before the defeat in the House, that vote had been anticipated for Wednesday. The candidate has been keeping in touch with the negotiators by telephone.

The House voted down the $700 billion bailout bill today, and panicked investors sent the stock market plunging as they realized no immediate help was coming from Washington.
Obama said he talked with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders, who were trying to figure out the next step.

Obama said he knew the vote "was a hard thing to do for Congress."

But "today, Democrats and Republicans in Washington have the responsibility to put make sure that the emergency rescue package is put forward that can at least stop the immediate problem we have," Obama said.