Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain said here Wednesday that the United States needs to work more closely with other countries and restore its image as a world power.

US Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) stands with Major Gordon Hilbun (R), McCain's vehicle commander in Haditha, Iraq, on March 16, 2008. Picture taken March 16, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We can't build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to," McCain said in a speech to members of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

    In his speech entitled "U.S. Foreign Policy: Where We Go From Here," the Arizona senator also reiterated his stance that U.S. troops should not be withdrawn from Iraq.

    McCain, who recently toured the Middle East and Europe, said the United States must do more to collaborate with democratic nations.

    "The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone," he said, "we need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies."

    McCain's comments seemed to diverge to some extent from the Bush administration, which has been criticized for employing a go-it-alone policy on foreign affairs.

US Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) unbuckles his flight helmet as he arrives at Sather Air Base in Baghdad, March 16, 2008. Picture taken March 16, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    But McCain reiterated that he would not advocate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. His Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both pledged to gradually withdraw U.S. troops if elected.

    Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, criticized McCain's speech as "empty rhetoric" that does nothing to distance him from the policies of the Bush administration.

    "His new appreciation for diplomacy has no credibility after hemimicked President Bush's misleading case for a unilateral war of choice when it mattered most," Dean said.

    McCain was on his first visit to California after becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee last month.

McCain beats both U.S. Democratic candidates in presidential "matchups"

    WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A poll released by Rasmussen Reports Wednesday shows Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) beat both his Democratic opponents in one-on-one "matchups" of the November presidential elections.

    McCain, who has secured the Republican presidential nomination, led Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) 50 percent to 43 percent.  Full story

Former first lady, Nancy Reagan, endorses McCain

    BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Former first lady Nancy Reagan jumped on the John McCain for president bandwagon Tuesday, adding to his backing from leading Republicans as the Arizona senator attempts to win over critical conservative voters and unite the party.

    The GOP nominee-in-waiting, in the midst of a West Coast fund-raising swing, stopped by the Southern California home of President Reagan's widow to accept the endorsement from the Republican matriarch he called beloved and wonderful. Full story

British PM, U.S. presidential candidate McCain meet on Iraq, climate change

    LONDON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain Thursday to discuss Iraq and climate change.

    McCain told reporters outside 10 Downing Street that his 45-minute talks with Brown covered a variety of issues, including Iraq and climate change.  Full story

Clinton outlines withdrawal plan as Iraq war anniversary draws near

    WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined on Monday her plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and renew her criticism on President George W. Bush administration's war policy in Iraq.

    To mark the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq on March 20, the New York senator vowed in a speech to an audience at the George Washington University that she would exercise the leadership needed to end the war in Iraq. Full story

Obama blames Iraq war for U.S. current economic woes

    WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama delivered a major speech on Thursday, linking U.S. slipping economy with the ballooning defense budget on the Iraq war.

    "How much longer are we going to ask our families and our communities to bear the cost of this war?" the Illinois senator said before a rally in West Virginia. Full story