From The Road
January 1, 2008 3:36 PM

McCain's New Web Ad

By
Andante Higgins
Topics
John McCain
(CBS)
From CBS News' Dante Higgins:

CONCORD, N.H. -- John McCain's campaign released a new ad, airing only on the web, that goes after Mitt Romney.

The ad displays images of an explosion, a burning car, bloodied bodies being carried away, and men raising guns in the air. The announcer then says, "Mitt Romney says the next president doesn't need foreign policy experience. John McCain for president."

John McCain told reporters this afternoon he disagrees with Romney's statement on the need for national security experience, "Governor Romney stated that he didn't think you needed foreign policy, national policy. I beg to differ. That's why we have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Larry Eagleburger and Al Haig. That's why we have the endorsement of over a hundred retired army, navy air force and Marine Corps generals," he said.

McCain said he's not picking a fight with Romney with this ad: "I am responding to attack ads that were made against me by Governor Romney and we did respond by quoting from the Concord Monitor, Manchester Union Leader and the 25 other newspapers including his hometown newspapers The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald who both strongly endorsed me. So we just responded," McCain said.

"And on the issue of leadership, Governor Romney managed a large investment company. I led the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy. I led not for profit but for patriotism. I'm proud of leading and the success of the thousand-person Navy squadron which is one of the best experiences I've had in my life. I'll match my leadership credentials up against anyone's ... not my management credentials. Americans want leaders they don't want managers. I can hire lots of good managers."

McCain played down the graphic images in the ad saying Americans have seen images like this in the news recently, "I think the American people have been seeing graphic images for the last several days as to what happened to Benazir Bhutto and the riots and the demonstrations in the streets. There is nothing in that video that is more graphic or astonishing than what the American people have seen and they have watched unfortunately within the last many years in Iraq."

Add a Comment
by cturner3rd January 2, 2008 5:52 PM EST
Endorsements from "Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Larry Eagleburger and Al Haig." That''s a rogue''s gallery of political hacks and hardliners, isn''t it? I agree with McCain when he says a president needs foreign policy experience, but can''t the GOP find someone who''s experience isn''t limited solely to dropping bombs on people?
Reply to this comment
.

Follow From The Road

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...