Obama defends tour, says McCain shifting on war
US: US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama brushed aside
Republican criticism of his overseas trip and stood outside the famed 10
Downing St. to say that both President George W. Bush and Sen. John
McCain were moving his way on the key issues of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hours before flying home Saturday, Obama also suggested his poll
numbers might dip in the coming days, adding: "We have been out of the
country for a week. People are worried about gas prices and home
foreclosures."
At the same time, he said the journey to two war zones, the Mideast
and Europe was important because "many of the issues that we face at
home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong
partners abroad."
Republicans have criticized Obama throughout his trip, and McCain's
campaign said recently the Democrat was taking a "premature victory lap"
with more than 100 days remaining in the presidential campaign.
In Arizona on Saturday, McCain took a swipe at the headline-making
trip in a radio address on Iraq and energy that his campaign made
available to the media: "With all the breathless coverage from abroad,
and with Sen. Obama now addressing his speeches to the people of the
world, I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are, too."
But Obama sought to turn that back on his critics. He said McCain had
earlier been "telling me I was supposed to take this trip. He suggested
it and thought it was a good idea."
London, Sunday, AP
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