In a town hall meeting in Iowa on Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) discussed his energy plan (Des Moines Register) and responded to news that Exxon Mobil made nearly $12 billion last quarter. “While big oil is making record profits, you are paying record prices at the pump, and our economy is leaving working people behind,” Obama said.

McCain adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin used the release of GDP data on Thursday as an opportunity to promote free trade. “When 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our borders, it is crucial that we do everything we can to expand markets for American goods and level the playing field for American businesses and workers,” he said in a statement.