Obama on attack over Iraq

Barack Obama went back on the offensive with presidential opponent John McCain over his approach to the Iraq war today.

In a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars he challenged the Republican to stop questioning his “character and patriotism”.

He was responding to Mr McCain’s comments before the same audience a day earlier when he said Mr Obama “tried to legislate failure” in the Iraq war and had put his ambition to be president above the interests of the United States.

Polls show the contest between the men has grown consistently closer in August, as Mr McCain appears to be succeeding with assertions that Mr Obama, a first-term senator with a short history in national politics, is untested and not ready for the White House. Mr McCain has served more than 20 years in the Senate.

Mr McCain – a former Navy fighter pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam – has asserted repeatedly that Mr Obama’s opposition to the Iraq war showed he would rather lose it than forfeit the contest for the presidency.

Mr Obama took him to task today saying: “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 Senator Mr 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. I love America, so do you, and so does John Mr McCain. ... you all served together, and fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag.”

Mr McCain’s revival of the candidates’ conflict over the Iraq war appeared designed to shift the debate away from the struggling American economy, which polls show is the top concern of voters.

Mr McCain is viewed as less likely to shepherd the country out of its financial crisis.

Mr Obama, meanwhile, is to announce his vice presidential candidate in the next few days.

The Democratic National Convention, at which Mr Obama is to officially accept his party’s nomination, begins on Monday in Denver. The vice presidential candidate will speak on the third night of the convention, which spans four days.

Mr Obama was keeping most aides in the dark and giving away nothing to voters as he campaigned.

Nevertheless, the Illinois senator has staffers in place to aid his prospective running mate, including more than a dozen seasoned operatives who have set up shop in a section of the campaign’s Chicago headquarters.

He was believed to have narrowed his list to Virginia governor Tim Kaine, Delaware senator Joe Biden, Indiana senator Evan Bayh and Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Mr McCain is considering naming his running mate between the end of the Democratic convention on August 28 and the September 1 start of the Republican convention.

His top contenders include Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.