McCain Claims Obama Is Hamas Choice

Alleged endorsement is fair game, his campaign insists

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 26, 2008 8:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – John McCain's campaign plans to make an issue out of an alleged "endorsement" of Barack Obama by Hamas, TPM reports. In a conference call with bloggers yesterday, McCain defended a fundraising email that claimed Obama was the militant group's choice for president. "I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States," McCain said. "If Senator Obama is favored by Hamas, I think people can make judgments accordingly."

The campaign followed with a statement calling the supposed endorsement "a legitimate issue for the American people to think about." McCain also slammed Obama's past association with a former Weatherman activist. A spokesman for the Obama camp said it was getting harder to believe McCain still plans to conduct "a respectful campaign" when he uses "the politics of association and makes claims he knows not to be true."

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to students at the Arkansas Baptist College Friday, April 25, 2008 in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters on board his "Straight Talk Express", Friday, April 25, 2008, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. gestures during a news conference at a gas station in Indianapolis, Friday, April 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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McCain Claims Obama Is Hamas Choice

Alleged endorsement is fair game, his campaign insists

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Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

Mac's Tactics Time-Tested ... But This Ain't the Time

'Tinny and trivial' attacks are too small, and in any case too late, in momentous election

Mac Should Muzzle Staffers, Drop Robocalls, Talk Security

Remind voters why they admired him: Kristol

Mac Hypocritically Mum on Felonious Pal Liddy

Republican won't cough up details despite hammering Obama on Ayers

Obama Lead Up to 14 Points Amid Mac Attacks: Poll

Poll finds Obama ahead 53% to 14% after McCain blows fail to land

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McCain Claims Obama Is Hamas Choice

Alleged endorsement is fair game, his campaign insists

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • John McCain • Hamas • extremists • negative campaigning

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

Mac's Tactics Time-Tested ... But This Ain't the Time

'Tinny and trivial' attacks are too small, and in any case too late, in momentous election

Mac Should Muzzle Staffers, Drop Robocalls, Talk Security

Remind voters why they admired him: Kristol

Mac Hypocritically Mum on Felonious Pal Liddy

Republican won't cough up details despite hammering Obama on Ayers

Obama Lead Up to 14 Points Amid Mac Attacks: Poll

Poll finds Obama ahead 53% to 14% after McCain blows fail to land

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