LIMA, OH– John McCain accused his Democratic rival of misleading the public Thursday, repeatedly referring to Obama’s “words” as empty and misleading when it comes to energy and the economy.

“The bottom line is that Senator Obama’s words, for all their eloquence and passion, don’t mean all that much. And that’s the problem in our nation’s capital today. It is not just the Bush Administration, and it’s not just the Democratic Congress,” McCain told more than 600 potential voters at a town hall meeting in central Ohio. “Washington is full of talented talkers, my friends. And unfortunately, on issues big and small, what Senator Obama says and what he does are often two different things.”

McCain then again took aim at Obama’s suggestion last week that properly inflating car tires could help save Americans significantly on energy.

“He actually thinks that raising taxes on oil is going to bring down the price at the pump. He is claiming that putting air in your tires is the equivalent is the equivalent of new offshore drilling. That is not an energy plan my friends, that is a public service announcement,” he said.

But during a media availability aboard his plane today before he heads on vacation Friday Obama said the tire pressure attack line proves Republicans lack solutions on energy and McCain is “misleading” Americans.

“I thought it was a good example of the fact that the other side’s not serious about real energy savings that can push down the price of gas, they’re interested in scoring political points…as we’re speaking truthfully about what we need to do to meet our challenges,” Obama told reporters aboard his plane.

McCain also stood his ground on voting against the 2005 Bush energy bill, stating that Obama may be “a little bit confused” since he is attacking the Republican for espousing Bush-like policies when it was Obama who voted for the bill.

“I spoke up against Congress and the administration and when they gave us an energy bill with more giveaways to big oil and really no solution to our energy problems,” McCain stated. “Senator Obama voted for that bill and its big oil giveaways. I know he hasn’t been in the senate that long but even in the real world voting for something means you support it and voting against something means you oppose it.”

Also one other minor note today. McCain scrapped one misleading figure he usually cites to slam Obama for increasing taxes on lower middle class Americans.

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After his two events in Edinburg, Texas, today, Senator Barack Obama poked his head through a security curtain set up by the Secret Service to say hi to his traveling press crew, which was sitting in a press file.

“Break it up,” he said as one of his Secret Service agents also peered into the room from behind the curtain. “Words matter. Don’t listen to Hillary,” he said, referring to her recent argument that the senator is all words and no substance. He smiled and then added, “That was a joke.”

When a reporter yelled out for Obama to respond to recent McCain comments, the senator coyly claimed he hadn’t heard what McCain said before disappearing again behind the curtain.

The Democratic frontrunner has not held a media availability since his Wisconsin victory. The last time he spoke to the press was on Monday in Ohio.