WILMINGTON, Ohio -- Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain has scheduled a private meeting with members of the DHL task force Thursday.

The group was formed after DHL, Clinton County’s largest employer, announced plans to cut 8,200 jobs at the Wilmington Air Park. The company intends to contract out its air cargo work to a competitor, UPS.

McCain is not expected to speak publicly in Wilmington.

His visit comes one month after Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama met privately with representatives of the task force. The meeting came just prior to a campaign event in Dayton.

Obama told WHIOTV.COM after the event that he would do what he could to help people in Wilmington, but he was unsure if there was a legal basis to block the DHL job loss.

McCain’s meeting, even before it happened, has come under fire from Democrats.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said McCain has been slow to respond to the situation.

In a conference call with reporters, Brown said Wednesday that McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis was once a lobbyist for DHL when the company was in the process of buying out Airborne.

Brown said McCain himself helped to block a Senate amendment that would have stalled the Airborne deal.

“I am questioning why Mr. Davis and Sen. McCain will not use the connections they have with this foreign company, Deustche Poste, to help the citizens of Wilmington. Just use your connections. Help us any way you can. It may not save the jobs, but it might,” Brown said.

Wilmington Mayor David Raizk told the Associated Press he is encouraged that McCain is coming to his city of 12,000.

"This is worthy of every presidential candidate's attention," Raizk said.

"Whether it's a vote-changing issue or not, I think it might be a little too early to tell. It's a matter of making sure our situation here stays on the front burner," Raizk said.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com