McCain Camp Takes on ‘Terrorists’ Preferences’

Elizabeth Holmes reports from Manchester, N.H., on the presidential race. John McCain ’s campaign held a conference call with reporters Wednesday with the dubious label: “Terrorists’ Preferences.” The Republican nominee’s staff was reacting to a story in the Washington Post that suggested members of al Qaeda endorsed McCain’s candidacy. The story was formed around postings on the Web site al-Hesba, which opined that McCain would continue the “failing march” of President George W. Bush . McCain’s top foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann trashed the Post report repeatedly, suggesting that it was a bold claim backed by thin evidence. Former CIA director Jim Woolsey suggested that the support was a sort of reverse psychology—that by endorsing McCain the terrorist group would encourage voters to support Barack Obama . All week, the GOP campaign has hit on the Democratic candidate’s inexperience and played up McCain’s foreign policy experience. At a rally on Tuesday, Sen.  ... (link)