Economic Crisis Dominates Debate

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Obama, McCain Square Off in Town Hall

Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama spar over which party is to blame for the nation's financial crisis and which candidate has a better plan for the future.

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"In his short career, he does not understand our national security challenges," McCain said. "We don't have time for on-the-job training."

Obama bristled at the statement and McCain's suggestion, as he put it, that "I don't understand" elements of foreign policy. The Democrat used his response to reframe his critique of the Iraq war as a diversion from vital U.S. security interests.

"It's true, there are some things I don't understand," Obama said sarcastically. "I don't understand how we ended up invading a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 while Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda are setting up base camps and safe havens to train terrorists to attack us. That was Senator McCain's judgment, and it was the wrong judgment."

The two men had an extensive joust over the worsening situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where violence has flared in recent months; they sparred over Obama's pledge to send troops after Osama bin Laden and into al-Qaeda havens in Pakistan if necessary.

"If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act, and we will take them out," Obama said.

McCain used that answer as an opportunity to question his rival's judgment, quoting President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he described as his hero, in saying that the United States should speak softly and carry a big stick. "When you announce that you're going to launch an attack into another country, it's pretty obvious that you have the effect that it had in Pakistan," he said. "It turns public opinion against us."

Obama protested McCain's criticism, saying, "Nobody called for the invasion of Pakistan" -- before trying to turn the tables on the Republican over what he characterized as his own bellicose rhetoric and record.

Later in the debate, McCain seemed to try to take the edge off the harsh portrait being painted by Obama, emphasizing the importance of nonmilitary tools in responding to Russia's aggression in Georgia. "Russians must understand that these kinds of actions and activities are not acceptable," he said, stressing that he would mount economic and diplomatic efforts to pressure Russia to change its behavior. "It will not be a reignition of the Cold War," he added, "but Russia is a challenge."

Staff writers Robert Barnes and Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.