The Arizona Republican, a former prisoner of war, reminded a crowd at the Maine Military Museum grounds that Obama opposed the troop surge last year and has yet to acknowledge that it has worked. He suggested that Obama’s position reflects a lack of judgment and experience on national security.
“That’s why I’m able to lead, and I don’t need any on-the-job training,” McCain said.
McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, would not set a timetable for troop withdrawal, saying the timing of reductions should be dictated by conditions on the ground.
“But they will come home with honor,” he said of American forces. “They won’t come home in defeat.”
Several hundred people, including many military veterans, turned out for McCains’s remarks in Mill Creek Park, near a small brick museum that houses a collection of POW memorabilia.
2 p.m. UPDATE
SOUTH PORTLAND - John McCain's bus, the so-called "Straight Talk Express", pulled up outside the Maine Military Museum to the sounds of Van Halen's "Right Now."
1:50 UPDATE
SOUTH PORTLAND - Hundreds of people are gathered outside the Maine Military Museum on Broadway awaiting the arrival of presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.
McCain is due to arrive at the museum in a few minutes to attend a rally followed by a private tour of the building.
1:45 UPDATE
KENNEBUNKPORT - Protestors booed and supporters cheered as John McCain attended a fundraiser at the Nonantum Resort.
The demonstration began around 10:30 a.m. when the group of about 30 protestors marched downtown and out Ocean Avenue toward the Nonantum.
They marched back in forth in front of the resort as McCain supporters boarded trolley buses to the Bush family compound at Walker's Point.
The demonstration broke up after McCain's caravan left the the Nonantum. Police said there were no problems.
11:45 UPDATE
KENNEBUNKPORT -- The summer home of former President George H. W. Bush is packed with buses, passenger vans, trolleys and Secret Service sport utility vehicles as the family hosts a fund-raising reception for GOP presidential candidate John McCain.
But McCain may be taking a watery route to The Nonantum Resort to meet with donors later today.
Staff members at the compound say that if weather permits, Bush plans to ferry McCain over to the resort on board the Fidelity, the speedboat the former president uses for fishing and pleasure cruises with visiting dignitaries.
About two dozen donors arrived here earlier this morning to meet with the Bush family at a private reception, where tickets were priced at $2,300 apiece.
After the reception, prominent Maine Republicans began to trickle in, including Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, as well as Charlie Summers, who is running against Democrat Chellie Pingree for the 1st Congressional District seat.
McCain said this is his first visit to Walker's Point, although he has been a frequent visitor to Maine campaigning for other Republicans.
11 a.m. UPDATE
Maine Democrats held a press conference this morning at a Portland home to discuss the energy policies of presidential hopefuls Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill. and John McCain, R-Ariz.
The conference was held as McCain travelled from Portland to Kennebunkport on a day of visits in Maine. It took place at the Prospect Street home of Lewis and C.C. Robinson, who spoke to the media about the recent investment in a pellet stove they made to help cut their home heating bills.
"What families are facing in Maine this winter is really scary,"...
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