"I said the fundamental of our economy is the American worker. I know the American worker is the strongest, the best, the most productive and most innovative," McCain told ABC television.

"They've been betrayed by a casino on Wall Street. They've been betrayed by corruption and distress that's damaged their futures," McCain argued.

"We're going to fix it. We're going to be sure that every American who has a deposit in the bank, their deposit is insured."

McCain on Monday insisted US economic "fundamentals" were strong despite a banking crisis and Wall Street meltdown, prompting a scathing rebuke from his White House foe Barack Obama.

"There has been tremendous turmoil in our financial markets and Wall Street. People are frightened by these events," McCain told supporters in the key battleground state of Florida.

"Our economy I think, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times," Senator McCain said.

"I promise you, we will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street," McCain vowed, drawing loud cheers from his supporters.

"Senator McCain, what economy are you talking about?" Democratic candidate Obama responded, after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy sent fear across the globe and spooked investors, wiping 500 points off the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The crisis marked a moment of peril and opportunity for the candidates, neither of whom has yet carved out a wide advantage on the economy, which polls show is the top concern of voters.

McCain appeared on cable networks Fox News and CNN as well as ABC early Tuesday, condemning Wall Street greed, an antiquated regulatory system and what he said was Obama's plan to increase taxes.

"We will come back from this crisis, but right now we are the victim of greed, excess and corruption in Wall Street which is hurting them very, very badly and, unfortunately, it will in the future, but I believe in the American worker and I believe the American worker is the fundamental strength and future of America," McCain told CNN.

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