John McCain sought again yesterday to tie Barack Obama to the terrorist group Hamas, a move that Obama's campaign said violated McCain's pledge for a respectful race.
In a conversation with conservative bloggers, McCain said, "I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare. . . . If Senator Obama is favored by Hamas, I think people can make judgments accordingly."
McCain was referring to Hamas political adviser Ahmed Yousef, who said in an interview with WABC Radio this month that the terrorist group supports Obama's foreign policy vision. "We hope he will [win] the election, and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, [a] great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance," Yousef said.
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, also used the comment in a fund-raising letter last week.
Obama's campaign pointed out that the Democrat has denounced Hamas as a terrorist group.
Obama has said he is willing to meet unconditionally with foreign leaders, even those with objectionable views, to improve the US standing in the world. But he has distinguished between governments, such as Iran, and groups, such as Hamas.
FOON RHEE
