By- Suzie-Q @ 10:30 PM MST
Obama: McCain ‘Doesn’t Know What He’s up Against’
Obama: McCain ‘doesn’t know what he’s up against,’ says rival shouldn’t question his character
By BETH FOUHY Associated Press Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. August 19, 2008 (AP)
A combative Barack Obama said Tuesday that Republican John McCain “doesn’t know what he’s up against” in this election and challenged his rival to stop questioning his character and patriotism.
Obama, campaigning in a state where he hopes to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to win in more than three decades, implored his supporters to fight for the presidency.
“Our job in this election is not just ‘win,’ although I’m a big believer in winning,” Obama said during the rally. “I don’t intend to lose this election. John McCain doesn’t know what he’s up against.”
“He can talk all he wants about Britney (Spears) and Paris (Hilton), but I don’t have time for that mess,” Obama said.
His remarks carried forward a theme of feisty campaigning he debuted earlier in the day.
Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando, Fla., Obama reaffirmed his early opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and said the strategy of sending in 30,000 additional troops last year had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country.
“These are the judgments I’ve made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election,” Obama told the veterans. “One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America’s national interest. Now, it’s time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.
“Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country,” Obama said to applause.