The war has been overshadowed by other issues during each party’s primary contests but looks set to be a defining issue in November because of the starkly opposing views of the two likely nominees reports the Financial Times.
Mr. McCain has stepped up his attacks against Mr. Obama’s plans for withdrawal in recent days, as he attempts to transform his support for the unpopular war from a liability into an electoral advantage.
Mr. Obama, the Democratic frontrunner, tentatively agreed on Thursday to visit Iraq before the election after days of criticism from his Republican rival for having failed to set foot in the country since violence started to decline last year.
The Democratic frontrunner reacted quickly to quash the issue after the Republican National Committee launched an online clock showing the number of days – 872 on Thursday – since Mr. Obama was last in Iraq.
Mr. McCain said Mr. Obama’s decision was “long overdue” and voiced hope that he would drop his “ideological” commitment to “surrender” after witnessing the progress made by US forces.
Read it here: McCain steps up Iraq criticism of Obama