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| Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a discussion on protecting homeownership in North Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 27, 2008. |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama - increasingly under fire from John McCain as he appears poised to win the Democratic nomination - said he is considering a trip to Iraq but dismissed as a "political stunt" an invitation by the Republican candidate to make the visit together.
McCain and Obama have increasingly targeted each other as a November general election showdown between the two men seems inevitable. The discussion about Iraq, largely sidelined during the primary battle, is likely to factor prominently in the general election and Obama has rallied to counter McCain's criticism that he lacks foreign policy experience.
Obama, who is now just 44 delegates shy of the 2,026 needed to claim the nomination and drive rival Hillary Rodham Clinton out of the race, could win the White House nod as early as Sunday if he fares well in Puerto Rico's primary.
Puerto Rico's primary, the island's first in nearly three decades, has brought attention to a U.S. territory where residents cannot vote in the general election and largely do not identify with any mainland party.
But, with 55 delegates to be apportioned between him and Clinton, eyes are on the territory because Obama could theoretically clinch the nomination if he beats his rival. Clinton is counting on a victory to bolster her claim to have won the majority of popular votes based on a selective count of Democratic contests.
The Democrat, vying to become the U.S.'s first black president, told The New York Times that the possible trip would be to talk to the U.S. troops and commanders and not to "try to score political points or perform."
McCain, a decorated Navy pilot and former Vietnam prisoner of war, has built much of his candidacy on his foreign policy and national security experience. While he supports continued U.S. military involvement in Iraq, Obama has called for a quick withdrawal of the troops.
In a campaign appearance in Nevada, a western U.S. state where both candidates have recently sought to shore up support ahead of the November race, McCain said Obama was "driven to his position by ideology and not by the facts on the ground"
McCain, who has been to Iraq eight times, said the first-term Democrat senator "does not have the knowledge or the experience to make the judgments. Presidents have to listen and learn. Presidents have to make judgments no matter how popular or unpopular they may be."
The Republican Party joined the fray Wednesday by launching an online clock to count the days since Obama last visited the war zone. By their count, it has been 871 days.
Obama, who spoke to reporters on his airplane Wednesday night as he flew home to Chicago, said it's "not relevant" that he has not been to Iraq since 2006 and that McCain was using the argument as a diversion.
Obama made his only trip to Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation.
McCain, who was on a fundraising trip with events in Los Angeles and Reno, Nevada, seemed offended that Obama characterized the invitation for a joint trip as a political stunt, saying it showed Obama's "lack of appreciation of the importance of this issue."
Obama picked up some fresh support heading Puerto Rico's contest. He secured the backing of four more superdelegates Wednesday but lost one. On Thursday he gained one more. Their backing is essential because they are free to vote as they chose in the party's nominating convention in August.
Clinton campaigned Wednesday in South Dakota which along with Montana hold the last two primaries on June 3. Her campaign aides were in Washington peppering uncommitted superdelegates with data indicating why she should be the Democratic presidential nominee.
Obama has 1,982 delegates, to Clinton's 1,780.
Clinton also is counting on a Democratic Party rules committee Saturday to seat the delegations from Michigan and Florida, whose primaries were voided when they were moved into January in violation of party rules.
Obama is willing to give her the lion's share of those delegates but is stopping short of her demand to fully recognize the two renegade states.
The DNC staff wrote in an analysis sent to members this week that the rules call for the two states to lose at least half their delegates at a minimum for voting too early.
