McCain Attacks Obama's Naivete

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Portents of a White House match-up between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama suggest that McCain sees national security and Iraq as his strongest cards in the general election.

But the indications are that Obama, 46, will portray the Arizona senator as a bellicose figure out of touch with the yearning of many Americans to exit what the Democrats call a disastrous adventure.

McCain, 71, on Wednesday issued a toughly worded statement accusing Obama of replacing his signature appeal for "the audacity of hope" with "the timidity of despair" when it comes to Iraq.

The Vietnam War hero lashed out after Obama, at a debate with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Ohio, reserved the right to re-enter Iraq after a withdrawal of US forces to hunt down Al-Qaeda militants.