McCain meets with first President Bush, slams Obama

U.S. Senator John McCain, with former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, in Kennebunkport, Maine.

21 July 2008

By Alex Koppelman

John McCain may not be eager to be seen in public with President Bush, but former President Bush is apparently a different story.

McCain was in Maine on Monday, and while there he stopped by the former president's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, for a private meeting and fundraiser that was followed by a joint press availability.

During the availability, McCain took the time to hit at Barack Obama, targeting his position on Iraq, which is obviously big news given Obama's trip there. Speaking of Obama's proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from that country, McCain said, "When you win wars, troops come home. He's been completely wrong on the issue ... I have been steadfast in my position." McCain also called Obama "someone who has no military experience whatsoever."

According to the Associated Press, at a later fundraiser, McCain also said, speaking of Iraq, "We've succeeded. We're not succeeding, we've succeeded."