(President-elect) Barack Obama said Sunday the economy will get worse before it gets better, pledged a recovery plan "equal to the task" and warned lawmakers that the days of (pork barrel) spending are over.
Less than six weeks before his (inauguration), Obama declined to say how large an economic stimulus plan he (envisions). He said his blueprint for recovery will include help for homeowners facing (foreclosure) on their mortgages if President George W. Bush has not acted by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
"We've got to provide a blood (infusion) to the patient right now to make sure that the patient is stabilized. And that means that we can't worry short term about the (deficit). We've got to make sure that the economic (stimulus) plan is large enough to get the economy moving," he said.
Obama made his comments on NBC's "Meet the Press," in his most (extensive) interview since winning the White House more than a month ago, and later at a news conference in Chicago.