Candidates Navigate Great Lakes Issues BUFFALO (wned) - The cleanup of the Great Lakes floated into the Presidential campaign yesterday with Senator Barack Obama's pledge to spend $5 billion of federal money toward the effort.

Senator John McCain's campaign was quick to dismiss the pledge stating that it "throws taxpayers' money at the problem."

Great Lakes states Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are considered to be key battleground states in the November election.

The funding would go toward sewage repairs, toxic cleanups and wetlands restoration throughout the region.

Some environmental groups have estimated that the Great Lakes' cleanup would cost $20 billion.
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