Sen. Herb Kohl says fellow Sen. John McCain is trying to scare voters and attacking Sen. Barack Obama in a desperate attempt to make up ground in the presidential race.

Kohl delivered the Democratic response Friday to McCain's appearance at a rally in La Crosse.

Kohl says the tactics won't work, especially late in a campaign. He says voters want to hear about the candidates' specific proposals on jobs, education, health care, energy and fixing the economy.

Kohl has served with McCain for 20 years in the Senate. He says he is surprised the Arizona Republican is taking the approach that he is.

In three stops across Wisconsin over the past two days, McCain has attacked Obama on a variety of issues, including his ties to a former 1960s radical. McCain also says if he's elected, he will reduce the tax burden on the middle class and help people pay for college.

McCain addressed a crowd of about 2,500 in the La Crosse Center Friday in his second visit to western Wisconsin.