DOVER, N.H. (AP) – Republican presidential hopeful John McCain tried to engage voters Saturday in the faraway turmoil in Pakistan, arguing the United States needs a president with his experience to deal with international crises.
McCain opened several town hall meetings with comments on Pakistan, where the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has triggered riots. He told crowds that the situation in Pakistan should matter to voters because it has implications for national security at home.
“I’ve been to Waziristan,” he said, referring to a tribal region where al-Qaida fighters have been active. “I know (President Pervez) Musharraf. I know these people, I’ve been there many times. … I know how to handle this situation, and that’s because I have the experience and the knowledge, the background and judgment.”
Asked later whether he thinks Pakistan will or should be a key factor for voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and the states that follow, McCain said he wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in Pakistan. I hope that the violence will decrease and there will be a commitment to move forward with the elections, and that I think will take it to a degree, off people’s minds,” he said. “And I hope that that’s the outcome.”
Though he didn’t mention any names, McCain drew a contrast with his chief rival here, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who lacks foreign policy experience.
He also criticized Democrat Barack Obama, whose chief strategist has suggested that the war in Iraq has undermined political stability in Pakistan.
“It’s a product of experience and a lack of knowledge of the region. Pakistan was a failed state when Musharraf came to power, everyone knows that,” he said. “I suggest a trip over there and a little more knowledge on the issue.”
Musharraf seized power in a military coup eight years ago.
McCain also won another New Hampshire newspaper endorsement, this time from the Concord Monitor. The newspaper, which took the unusual step last week of writing an anti-endorsement of Romney, cited McCain’s integrity, ability to learn from his mistakes and willingness to break with his party.
“Earlier in the campaign, when McCain was being counted out, a consultant might have urged a makeover: Lose the moral compass on torture and immigration, ditch the vision for a turnaround in Iraq,” the newspaper wrote. “Not a chance. John McCain held on to his principles and defended them with dignity. New Hampshire residents who vote in the Republican primary should reward that integrity with their votes.”
Romney’s campaign responded with an email to supporters calling the endorsement unsurprising given that McCain has used the Monitor’s “vicious” editorial against Romney. “But why is a Republican echoing personal attacks from a liberal newspaper?” the campaign wrote. “Like most New Hampshire Republicans, Governor Romney holds conservative positions opposed by the liberal editorial board at The Concord Monitor.”
In Dover, a woman who said she considers McCain a man of integrity asked him to explain his failure to reprimand a voter in South Carolina who called Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton a “bitch.” In November, McCain chuckled in response to the man’s question, then said he respects Clinton, a New York senator and colleague.
“I’d like to know if you and Sen. Clinton are the nominees of your parties how you will react to the use of sexist language and attitudes by the media and the public,” the voter in Dover asked McCain.
McCain said he always has disapproved of language disparaging anyone’s character and will continue to treat Clinton with respect.
“If someone makes a disparaging remark, obviously I will tell them how I view the political process and how we should behave,” he said. “I won’t go into details of that, but there was also an interjection where a guy said, ‘I think you’re talking about my ex-wife.’ But… I’ve always treated my opponents with respect and I will continue to do so.”
AP-ES-12-29-07 1603EST
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