The Associated Press

Fri, May 16, 2008 (12:37 a.m.)

IN THE HEADLINES

McCain says Iraq war won by 2013, lists other prospective accomplished if he wins White House ... Bush warns against appeasing terrorists; Obama claims 'false political attack' on him ... Tennessee GOP video takes Michelle Obama to task for 'proud' remark; Dems call it a smear ...

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McCain outlines vision of Iraq victory

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) _ Republican John McCain declared for the first time he believes the Iraq war can be won by 2013, although he rejected suggestions that his talk of a timetable put him on the same side as Democrats clamoring for full-scale troop withdrawals.

The Republican presidential contender, in a speech Thursday that also envisioned Osama bin Laden dead or captured, and Americans with the choice of paying a simple flat tax or following their standard 1040 form, said only a small number of troops would remain in Iraq by the end of a prospective first term because al-Qaida will have been defeated and Iraq's government will be functioning on its own.

"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won," McCain told an audience of several hundred here in the capital city of a general election battleground state.

Later, as the Arizona senator drove to the airport on his "Straight Talk Express" campaign bus, McCain was peppered by reporters with questions about the timetable. He and his aides insisted there was a difference between ending the war and bringing troops home and, as they criticize the Democrats, announcing a withdrawal upfront without regard for the military endgame.

"It's not a timetable; it's victory. It's victory, which I have always predicted. I didn't know when we were going to win World War II; I just knew we were going to win," McCain said.

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Bush appeasement jab brings quick Obama retort

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Barack Obama accused President Bush of "a false political attack" after Bush warned in Israel against appeasing terrorists _ early salvos in a general election campaign that's already blazing even as the Democratic front-runner tries to sew up his party's nomination.

The White House denied Bush had targeted Obama, who said the Republican commander in chief's intent was obvious.

In short order, Thursday's controversy spilled across the presidential campaign.

John McCain, the Republican nominee in waiting, said Obama was showing "naivete and inexperience and lack of judgment" in his willingness to meet with U.S. foes.

Hillary Rodham Clinton then called Bush's original comments "offensive and outrageous, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy."

As the workday began stateside, Bush gave a speech to Israel's Knesset in which he spoke of the president of Iran, who has called for the destruction of the U.S. ally. Then, the president said: "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along."

With the president abroad and those seeking to succeed him campaigning at home, the transcontinental tiff signaled the early direction of the general election. Bush seemed to assume the traditional lame-duck presidential role in trying to help the Republican nominee-in-waiting, and Obama tried to maneuver for advantage _ and to show strength _ while on the cusp of clinching the Democratic nomination.

Even as the White House said Bush meant no dig at the Democrat, the president's press secretary Dana Perino couldn't resist the opportunity to get in a small one.

"I understand when you're running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you. That is not always true. And it is not true in this case," she said.

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Tenn. GOP mocks Michelle Obama's 'proud' remark

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The Tennessee Republican Party "welcomed" Michelle Obama's visit for a fundraiser with an online video that takes the Democratic presidential front-runner's wife to task for a comment some considered unpatriotic.

Michelle Obama was campaigning in Wisconsin last February for her husband, Barack Obama, when she said: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country."

The four-minute video posted on YouTube is built around the remark, replaying it six times and interspersing it with commentary by Tennesseans, identified mostly by their first names, on why they are proud of America.

Michelle Obama later clarified the remark, saying she meant she was proud of how Americans were engaging in the political process and that she had always been proud of her country.

"The Tennessee Republican Party has always been proud of America," the party said in a news release that included a link to the video. It also urged radio stations to play "patriotic music" during her visit to Nashville on Thursday.

"I'm Bob Pope and I'm proud to be an American because mainly of the First Amendment _ the right to worship God anywhere I choose to _ and the Second Amendment, I've got the right keep and bear arms," he says, standing in front of a bank of guns mounted on the wall.

Obama's campaign accused the Tennessee GOP of engaging in smear politics and unfairly going after the candidate's family.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigns in Oregon. Barack Obama meets with voters in South Dakota.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain stops in West Virginia before addressing the National Rifle Association's meeting in Kentucky.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"When Bear Stearns needed assistance, we stepped in with a $30 billion package. But when our farmers need help, all they get from Senator McCain and President Bush is a veto threat." _ Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

About 45 percent of the statewide Democratic primary vote in Oregon's recent elections has come from the Portland area.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.