The worst climate in housing since the Great Depression has put the economy- and homeownership- in the spotlight. Ohio's Joe the Plumber- whole livelihood is loosely tied to the real estate market- put Democratic hopeful Barack Obama on the defensive about the White House front-runner's tax policies. But the economic debate is far broader.

Who's got solutions for cascading home values and soaring foreclosures? The sickly stock market needs help, too. Plus, anyone got a cure for the huge loss of jobs, such as real estate and finance work that Joe the Plumber might possibly do?

Pundits suggest that global stock and bond market gyrations truly spooked voters and gave Obama a late boost past Republican John McCain. But the real estate- also in a heap of hurt- is a truly local phenomenon that factors into the pocketbook-heavy voting assumptions.

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