Standing in front of more than 100,000 supporters in Civic Center park, Barack Obama said today he is ready for the final nine days of the presidential campaign and vowed to stay focused on improving the country’s faltering economy.

“What we need right now is a real debate about how to fix our economy and help middle class families,” Obama said. “But that’s not what we’re getting from the other side. A couple of weeks ago, my opponent’s campaign said that ‘if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose,’ so they said they’d be focusing on attacking me instead.

“And that’s one campaign promise they’ve actually kept. Sen. McCain has been throwing everything he’s got at us, hoping something will stick. He’s even called me a socialist for suggesting that we focus on tax cuts, not for corporations and the wealthy, but for the middle class.”

As he was introduced, Obama walked down a long runway stage to thunderous applause.

“Do you ever have small crowds in Denver?” Obama asked the crowd, which shouted back “NO!”

Denver police estimated the crowd at more than 100,000. Civic Center park holds 34,000, and there were several thousand more in the streets surrounding the park and on the steps of the state Capitol.

The Obama campaign said it was the largest U.S. crowd to ever attend rally to see the Illinois senator. Obama addressed a crowd in Berlin that was estimated at 200,000.

He thanked Americans for those who “sent letters, and flowers and well wishes” to his ailing grandmother. Obama left the campaign trail on Thursday and Friday to visit his grandmother in Hawaii.

In Denver, Obama gave basically the same economic speech that he has been giving at stops where he has drawn huge crowds. Last weekend, he drew 100,000 in St. Louis.

He continues to try to tie Republican presidential nominee John McCain to President Bush — and he chided his rival for trying to turn the tables.

“The other day, he took it to a whole new level. He said that I was like George W. Bush. You can’t make this stuff up, folks,” Obama said. “In what may be the strangest twist of all, Sen. McCain said that I would somehow continue the Bush economic policies — and that he, John McCain, would change them.

“But then, just this morning, Sen. McCain said that he and President Bush ‘share a common philosophy.’ That’s right, Colorado. I guess that was John McCain finally giving us a little straight talk and owning up to the fact that he and George Bush actually have a whole lot in common.”

After rattling off the numerous economic challenges facing the country, Obama said he was confident that his administration, if elected, would be able to get the country on the right track.

“I know these are difficult times. I know folks are worried,” he said. “But I believe that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis because I believe in this country. Because I believe in you. I believe in the American people.

“We are the United States of America. We are a nation that’s faced down war and depression; great challenges and great threats. And at each and every moment, we have risen to meet these challenges — not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Americans … But Colorado, I know this. It will take a new direction. It will take new leadership in Washington.”

Security opened the gates 45 minutes early as a line of supporters snaked around the park, down Colfax to Cherokee Street and then south on Cherokee for several blocks.

Gates were scheduled to open at 10 a.m., but there were several thousand people in line at 8:30 a.m.

Obama has two rallies in the area today. After addressing the crowd in Denver, Obama heads to Fort Collins for an event scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

In Denver, the Obama campaign said it was expecting a crowd of about 34,000, but it appeared far more than that attended. Those who tired of standing in line took up positions on the steps of the state Capitol and in the areas around Civic Center. Police finally closed Broadway and Lincoln to handle the overflow crowd.

Walt Young, a 61-year-old substitute teacher from Boulder, was proudly wearing a hat designating him as a Vietnam veteran.

“I want to show that veterans are supporting Obama,” he said. “The McCain people are trying to say that they are supporting veterans, but they really don’t.”

As with most of the political rallies held in the state, there are a number of anti-war protesters in attendance, chanting to the crowd.

Eric Verlo of Colorado Springs was holding a large sign that read: “Democrats please stop funding the war.”

Democrats have control of the Congress and they keep funding the war, the 47-year-old said.

“It’s just a reminder. Barack is talking about sending more soldiers to Afghanistan and a slow withdrawal from Iraq.”

Obama has been spending his time in battleground states, those won by President Bush four years ago. Several, including Colorado, are leaning toward the Democrat, according to the latest polls.

He has steadily built a lead by focusing on the economy. In Denver, he again defended the federal government’s bailout of Wall Street, saying it was a “necessary first step.”

The McCain campaign has been criticizing Obama as “tax-and-spend liberal,” and cautioning the country that if Obama wins, the White House and Congress would be controlled by Democrats. There are signs that the Democrats could pick up numerous seats in the House and Senate on Nov. 4.

“It’s true that I want to roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans and go back to the rate they paid under Bill Clinton,” Obama said. “John McCain calls that socialism. What he forgets is that just a few years ago, he himself said those Bush tax cuts were irresponsible. He said he couldn’t ‘in good conscience’ support a tax cut where the benefits went to the wealthy at the expense of ‘middle class Americans who most need tax relief.’ Well, he was right then, and I am right now.

“So let me be crystal clear: If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year — which includes 98 percent of small business owners — you won’t see your taxes increase one single dime. Not your payroll taxes, not your income taxes, not your capital gains taxes — nothing. That is my commitment to you.”

Obama also pledged to address renewable energy and “fix” health care.

“And if I’m president, we’ll give every child, everywhere the skills and the knowledge they need to compete with any worker, anywhere in the world,” he said. “I will not allow countries to out-teach us today so they can out-compete us tomorrow.”