On a conference call with bloggers this morning, RNC Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli defended John McCain's economic policies, which the candidate put forth in a speech to the National Federation of Independent Businesses yesterday, while describing Barack Obama's policies as the kind of "change that got us into the Great Depression."

Avoiding the term recession, Donatelli described the economy as "soft" and that it is "an open question on which way it will go." However, Donatelli said, the differences between Obama and McCain on economic policy are as "stark" as they were in 1980 between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.

Although McCain didn't mention gas prices or energy policy in his speech yesterday, Donatelli said the candidate would be addressing that issue shortly. As for what McCain might advocate, Donatelli said he would talk about expanding the oil supply and the country's nuclear capacity.

However, Donatelli would not say whether McCain would advocate more domestic drilling, which polling shows a majority of Americans now favor. In the past, McCain has voted against drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Donatelli did say that McCain will offer a "more balanced" energy policy than Obama.