DAVENPORT - In two days, Barack Obama will address thousands at the Democratic National Convention and spread his message to millions watching on television.

Monday, in Davenport, the Democratic presidential nominee held a much more low-key event.

Speaking to about 150 invited guests - many undecided voters or wavering Republicans targeted by area Obama volunteers - the Illinois senator hammered home the theme that he, not Republican John McCain, is the Washington outsider with an understanding of real-world problems.

On issues from the economy, to energy and foreign policy - where he faces accusations of being inexperienced and naive - Obama attempted to paint his opponent as honorable but hopelessly out of touch. He spoke for about 30 minutes, then fielded questions for another half hour.

"The American people are worried," he said. "Not just about themselves, but about the direction of the country as a whole. And they've got good reason to be worried. The fact is, the economy is not working for ordinary Americans."

He said Republicans are ignoring symptoms of economic illness: wages flatlining while gas, food and health care goes up, more foreclosures than any time since the depression and the government having to consider major bailouts of financial institutions.

"When you say the fundamentals of the economy are sound and your top economic adviser is saying you've become a nation of whiners, then you don't get it," he said. "You're out of touch, and you're not hearing the stories of ordinary Americans who are working hard everyday but feel like their just treading water, and in some cases, sinking."

By contrast, Obama said he has a tax plan that would provide cuts to 95 percent of Americans, most of them in the middle class. While McCain would retain cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations, Obama's plan would target working Americans, he said.

Independent and some conservative analysts, Obama said, have concluded his plan will provide three times the amount of tax relief to the American people as McCain's.

"John McCain has a compelling biography. He served America with bravery and distinction, and he deserves respect for that," Obama said. "But his policies don't deserve respect. His ideas don't deserve respect because they're the same old ideas we've seen out of George Bush for the past eight years."

Sitting at rustic, unpainted picnic tables under a grove of oak trees at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, the crowd responded enthusiastically at times.

Toni Castor, an undecided voter from Davenport who said she typically leans toward Democrats, came away impressed.

"It was persuasive enough" to get her to vote for Obama, she said. "The most important issues for me are affordable health care and getting out of the war."

Andy Lank - son of former Davenport alderman and downtown business owner Bob Lank - said that despite his dad's lifelong Republicanism and a jesting threat to "disown" him if he voted for Obama, he remains on the fence.

He liked some of what he heard but disagrees with Obama on several issues, including the candidate's support for finding a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

The most lighthearted moment of the decidedly casual campaign stop came when Cynthia Ross-Freidhof pitched the taste of Magic Mountains at Ross' Restaurant while asking the senator what he would do to improve the climate for small businesses.

Obama apologized for skipping a caucus-visit stop at the Bettendorf mom-and-pop diner and said he would make sure to get there someday.

Ross-Freidhof said she's a big supporter but needed help persuading husband, Ron, to vote for Obama.

"Do you have a phone?" Obama asked. "Let's call him."

He then proceeded to take her cell phone, chatted with Ron about his restaurant and promised to get back with him on details about his ideas for capital gains tax relief for small businesses. The encounter left an impression on Ross-Freidhof, who was already an Obama fan to begin with.

"He's just genuine," she said. "I think the guy is for real."

Not everyone was as excited about the campaign stop.

Former Davenport mayor Ed Winborn was among about 30 supporters of U.S. Sen. John McCain who lined Locust Street to show their support for the Republican candidate.

Contact Tory Brecht at (563) 383-2329 or tbrecht@qctimes.com.