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McCain Supporter Ridicules Obama
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Nonetheless, the exchange was an example of the already intense competition between McCain and Obama even before either has locked up his party's nomination.
On a conference call later to discuss McCain's decision to withdraw from the public financing system, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis accused the Obama campaign of unfairly questioning the senator's ethical standards. "That is a line of attack that the Obama camp signaled early they were going to pursue," Davis said. "We're happy to debate ethical standards and commitment to reform and ethics all day long."
Davis later called Obama the only candidate who has "broken his word to the American public" by considering not joining the public financing system after initially indicating he would.
After McCain's speech at the rally Tuesday, Portman said that Cunningham is "often controversial" and that it did not surprise him that the radio host made such provocative comments.
But on stage earlier, Portman was effusive about Cunningham's speech. "Willie, you're out of control again. So, what else is new? But we love him," Portman told the crowd. "But I've got to tell you, Bill Cunningham lending his voice to this campaign is extremely important."
The speech by Cunningham followed comments by another supporter, a local prosecutor, who mocked Obama's lack of military service and his message of optimism in the campaign.
Joseph T. Deters called Obama the "presumptive Democratic candidate" and predicted that Obama's success will quickly fade as people see through his rhetoric. He said that will happen "after the vortex of love for this candidate stops -- and I feel so badly for the Clintons about this, don't you? -- and everybody sobers up and says what does this guy really stand for?"
