McCain: Al Qaeda May Intervene To Tip Election Towards Dems

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him," Reuters reports.

McCain, at a town hall meeting in this Philadelphia suburb, was asked if he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him.

"Yes, I worry about it," McCain said. "And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications ... The hardest thing in warfare is to counter someone or a group of individuals who are willing to take their own lives in order to take others."

TPM's Greg Sargent notes: "You know, I keep hearing from Republican pundits and operatives that the specter of terrorism inevitably bolsters the electoral prospects of Republicans. But here McCain says that Al Qaeda would amp up their attacks in Iraq to hurt him. Hard to keep track of this stuff sometimes."

Comments

[tiredofhillary]

I'm even a little bit surprised that McSame would use the Bush scare campaign.

[transendentilist]

Why, he has the same political advisor that bush and cheney had. Karl Rove. His fingerprints are all over this one.

[suntzu]

The Manchurian Candidate has spoken.

[Graywolf48]

Yes my freinds, if you don't cast your vote for Crazy Johnny, then the boogey man will getcha!

[Zhonni]

What a MORON, I mean what a MORONIC statement. I hope he continues to talk in those terms he will be easier to beat than I once thought.

[hydenorhare]

I don't know how the original question was worded but it was said to be if

"he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him."

Could it possibly be that he was worried about ... increased casualties? Not how it would hurt him?

[transendentilist]

Oh sure, now click the heels of your ruby slippers three times while saying..."­There's no place like home, there's no place like home."

[RogerHWerner]

McCain is a pathetic fool. al Qaeda has no presence in Iraq and has never had a presence, and, if the man extracted his head from his ass he might comprehend that deadly attacks are a continuing problem in that land. What this miserable excuse of a politician is probably stressing about is the prospect that that erstwhile American all Moqtada al Sadr might withhold his support for the existing ceasefire in August and declare open season on Americans. Yes, that would present this man with a serious political dilemma.

[Gary47]

Yes Mr. McCain, and just as likely truth may intervene, knock you upside the head and shout, "Wake up man, reality is right in front of your nose!"

[SickOfAllTheBS]

Give me a break. Any informed person would know that a terrorist attack would benefit McCain, not hurt his chances. He is only saying that in case there is no terrorist attack and people end up voting based on the economy. He is only tring to bring terrorism to the forefront because most people at least half this country is ignorant enough to believe he is the best person to handle terrorism.

[init]

Where are the tax papers and donor papers?

[iburl]

This is B.S. The Republican party is Bin Laden, and extremist violent radicals' best friend... They are a recruiting tool beyond all others, PLUS they provide ample, demonstable proof to their whole "U.S. is an evil warmongering empire that is out to destroy us". They tipped 2004 for Bush, if anything. Osama should fear Obama, as Barack Obama has said that he still wants "justice" for 9/11, and that he is willing (unlike Bush) to hunt him in Pakistan.

[lbrillante]

Clearly the republican would benefit from event that would allow them to stir up more fear and concern for security. Senator McCain is clearly being disingenuous in his statement but that's obvious. I guess that the media wanted us to know...

OBAMA/EDWARDS '08

[springsm]

Gee and all along I figured they would be bringing Osama's mummified body out for us all to see that we "had him, dead or alive". You can bet something will happen so that "Myfriends" can use the fear factor and the war drums can beat. Sadly, I do not think anything is beyond this present administration and its wannabes.

[Roman777]

NO MORE MORONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, PLEASE!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!

[Betsy]

I disagree and reject McCain's response. I believe distrust for the Republican Party and good old American Patriotism will intervene and seat a Democrat as the next President of the United States.

[Gilda]

Isn't it about time for a anthrax scare? Or maybe one of those pesty suitcase nuclear attacks?

The good old days .... sure will miss the neocons next year.