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McCain hits Obama's past before debate

By Stephen Dinan (Contact) | Tuesday, October 7, 2008

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Sen. John McCain challenged his Democratic presidential opponent Sen. Barack Obama's honor and honesty on the eve of Tuesday's presidential debate, injecting a personal tone heading into the face-to-face showdown as he sought to refocus the race on Mr. Obama's character.

"My opponent's touchiness every time he is questioned about his record should make us only more concerned," Mr. McCain said in New Mexico, suggesting that Mr. Obama was hiding something. "It's as if somehow the usual rules don't apply, and where other candidates have to explain themselves and their records, Senator Obama seems to think he is above all that."

In an across-the-board assault Monday, Mr. McCain accused Mr. Obama of lying on his economic record. The Republican's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has raised Mr. Obama's ties to William Ayers, a founder of the radical Weather Underground group that bombed government buildings to protest the Vietnam War, and the Republican National Committee filed a complaint arguing that Mr. Obama had taken illegal campaign contributions.

The McCain campaign also announced a commercial arguing that the Democrat is "dishonorable" and "dangerous" for having voted against a troop funding bill. Mr. Obama did vote against one war-spending bill that became law, though he voted in favor of other versions.

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With the second of three face-to-face debates between the two men scheduled for Tuesday night, the ghosts of campaigns past have begun to haunt both of them - mainly because Mr. McCain is determined to make their past a central issue.