COLUMBUS, Ohio - Republican John McCain cruised to a comfortable victory in Wisconsin, and criticized Barack Obama in a clear indication he's betting that the Democrat will be his opponent.
"I'm not the youngest candidate. But I am the most experienced," McCain, 71, said, trying to draw a contrast with Obama, the fresh-faced, 46-year-old who is rolling up wins against opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton in a bid to win the Democratic nomination.
McCain has all but secured the nomination and his victory over GOP opponent Mike Huckabee simply put him closer to officially clinching the 1,191 delegates needed to win the Republican crown. McCain is hoping to seize an advantage for the general election while Obama and Clinton continue to fight for their own party nod.
"Thank you, Wisconsin, for bringing us to the point where even a superstitious naval aviator can claim with confidence and humility that I will be our party's nominee for president of the United States," McCain said after watching the results in Ohio, which holds its primary on March 4 and is a key general election battleground.
Exit polls, however, showed that McCain still has trouble with GOP voters who consider themselves "very conservative." About three in 10 voters in the Republican primary were born-again, evangelical Christians, and they voted almost 2-to-1 for Huckabee over McCain. But McCain's popularity among moderates and the "somewhat conservative" voters gave the Arizona senator the win.
The likely GOP nominee used his victory speech to preview his line of criticism against an Obama candidacy. While he never mentioned Obama by name, McCain's criticism of the Illinois senator was unmistakable. It signaled that McCain's campaign, at this point, believes it will ultimately face Obama in the fall campaign.
"I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change ... that promises no more than a holiday from history and a return to the false promises and failed policies of a tired philosophy that trusts in government more than the people," McCain said — a clear reference to Obama, whose soaring rhetoric has led critics, including McCain, to question whether he's all style and no substance.
"Our purpose is to keep this blessed country free, safe, prosperous and proud," McCain added.
He also keyed in on Obama's statements about foreign policy and his willingness to meet with leaders of rogue nations, painting him as a novice who would put the country in danger.
"Will the next president have the experience?" he asked. "Or will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan, and suggested sitting down without preconditions or clear purpose with enemies who support terrorists and are intent on destabilizing the world by acquiring nuclear weapons?"
Last August, Obama had said if the United States had actionable intelligence about top terrorist targets in Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf wouldn't act, the U.S. would. That pledge set off ripples of resentment in the relationship between Washington and Islamabad, prompting Pakistani officials to warn against U.S. incursions into their country.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
Truly truly I say unto you, if Mike Huckabee's voice is not heard somewhere in the white house, Barak Hussein Obama will be the next president of the United States. (period) And thus we will be living in the age of antichrist right smack through the tribulation to the horror of many and John Hagee.
You know what? I am so displeased with the republican party right now about how they have not paid closer attention to Mike Huckabee's Campaign and strategic plan to help this country that I by conviction must vote for Mike Huckabee as my write-in candidate if he is at the very least not selected as McCains running mate. Mow our nation is headed either to more war or socialism all because we have allowed the arrogant media and political masons to cherry pick the variour nominees of the two largest political parties. Meanwhile, various interest groups who once detested McCain are now jocking for position to be his "lap dog." I have always liked John McCain and never had anything bad to say about him. But I like Mike Huckabee a bit better. Texas and Ohio just vote for Mike Huckabee just this one time.
Obama is a fresh face that Americans are going to take a chance with. He represents the hope for postive change.
If you are Christian, answer this. Faith without works is dead. Which is empty hope? Obama has great words. Where are his works to prove it? He is not standing on his work but on his promise of change. Obama is a man, and men have lied after giving great speeches with much promise. God tells not to look at the man but at his ways. If he talks the talk, he should walk the talk.
citsonga, are you a Christian?
citsonga is everywhere for Obama. Keep going... May God give us the best President. haha
Obama’s International Socialist Connections
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-international-socialist-connections/
Senator Obama WILL BE the next president. It surprises me that many conservative Republicans I know actually are supporting Obama. They are tired of the fool bush, see mccain as more of the same in term of war mongering...mccain would be same ol same ol. Too much negativity towards clinton. the Democratic electorate is finally figuring out she would lose against mccain and are now turning towards Obama, especially independents. Obama is a fresh face that Americans are going to take a chance with. He represents the hope for postive change.
Obama’s Communist Mentor
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-communist-mentor/
John McCain, good man that he is, is saying experience over elequent but empty rhetoric. Experience got us Nixon and LBJ, empty rhetoric got us W and elequence got us JFK! I didn't think I'd get a 2nd coming of JFK but that great Irishman, O'bama, is it!
And too, Senator McCain said we'd be in Iraq a hundred years (he's since tried to crawfish out of that, but he said it on the "StraightTalk Express" and I believe him.) Listen, this country, except for embassies, hasn't occupied any country for more a few years and hasn't even stayed there for more than 62 (Japan 1945 to present.)
I'm voting for the rich heritage of this nation fighting a revolutionary war to change! Empty rhetoric? With O'bama leading the way, I believe in the American people to fill that promise of tomorrow!
David Perkins
www.JesusChristSaid.com
I think Huck needs to get out of the way already, while he's still got a shred of credibility left. He's still beneath the delegate count where Romney realized he was just in the way. It's either McCain or a pro-abortion President. That's the choice. "Choose life, that you may live..." Dt. 30:19.
"Or will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan,"
This is the height of hypocracy!! O'bama suggested a surgical strike to get terrorist leaders would be OK even if in Pakistan territory, without checking with Pakistan. The Bush administration mocked O'bama for saying it, and then, two weeks later, did precisely what O'bama suggested without clearing it with Pakistan first, and even bragged about it!
Where does McCain get off attacking O'bama in this manner, for suggesting what our so-called commander-in-chief has already done.