Democrat Barack Obama's and Republican John McCain's financial advisers are at odds about a balance-the-budget plan. The current financial crisis has changed their previous plans to balance the budget in either's first term, according to their advisers.

 

"It's a matter of money," said one of McCain's advisors. "We thought there would be more money in the mix and we could balance a budget. Now we see there is a problem with money."

 

An Obama advisor said, "We still think we may be able to balance the budget but then again, we don't know about doing it in our first term. In fact, we don't know about doing it in our second term and we are now thinking that perhaps we need a Constitutional amendment to allow a third term where we think we can do it."

 

The McCain advisors retorted, "Third term? No way. We are still hesitant about a second term just on our candidate's age."

 

"The events of the past few months have completely thrown a wrench into all plans," said financial expert Lloyd Lips of Grapenstake University.