Republican presidential candidate John McCain had his own German experience Thursday - at arestaurant in Ohio. He asserted that he was happy to devote his time this week to touring thenation's heartland.
"I'd love to give a speech in Germany. But I'd much prefer to do it as president of the UnitedStates rather than as a candidate for president," McCain told reporters after a meal of bratwurstwith local business leaders at Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus' German Villageneighborhood.
As Barack Obama delivered a high-profile speech in Berlin, McCain said he was focusing hisattention this week on economic issues, including soaring food and fuel costs. He has been busycampaigning and raising funds in key battleground states like Ohio.
In what was clearly not a coincidence, McCain spoke with reporters shortly before Obama beganhis speech at Berlin's Victory Column.
At the same time, The Republican National Committee was running anti-Obama ads in Berlin, Pa.,and other namesake villages inWisconsin and New Hampshire.
McCain is trying hard to get attention during Obama's week abroad. He had planned to visit anoffshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, but rough seas leftover from Hurricane Dollycaused him to scrub that trip. He was to appear with famed cyclist Lance Armstrong later Thursdayat a town-hall meeting here that is focused on cancer. And on Friday, he'll meet with the DalaiLama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, in Aspen, Colo.
He said he regretted not being able to make the trip to the drilling rig, a visit intended toemphasize his support for lifting of the ban on offshore drilling. President Bush earlier thismonth rescinded an executive order reinforcing the congressional ban, but Congress must act as wellfor the moratorium on Outer Continental Shelf drilling to be abolished.
"I'm sorry Congress is gridlocked again on offshore drilling," McCain said. "When I'm president,we'll all sit down together and work this out."
On Europe, where Obama has been meeting with leaders, McCain said cultivating good relationswith a new generation of European leaders was important . "A lot of these leaders are a lot morepro-American than their predecessors were," he said.
The Arizona senator defended his assertions that Obama was more interested in winning a campaignthan winning the war in Iraq. Democrats have suggested McCain went overboard, implying thatthe Illinois Democrat would put the nation's children at jeopardy for political reasons.
"All of us care about our children," McCain said. "I stand by my comments."
McCain has complained that Obama's support for a fixed timetable to withdraw troops ignoresrecent progress made under President Bush's troop buildup.
"It's clear Sen. Obama doesn't understand what's at stake here. It's pretty obvious he'staken this position to secure the nomination of his party."
Of Friday's meeting with the Dalai Lama in Colorado, McCain called the Tibetan spiritual leader"a transcendent national role-model."
"I have been a great admirer of the Dalai Lama," said McCain, a sharp critic of the Chinesecrackdown in the Tibetan region.
Ohio is a key swing state. Recent polls have suggested a close contest between Obama and McCain.President Bush narrowly defeated Democrat John Kerry here in 2004, and some Democrats havesuggested that voting irregularities that favored Republicans helped swing the electionBush's way.
German Village is in the 15th congressional district, held by Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce. Itencompasses most of the city of Columbus and its southern and western suburbs. Pryce won in thelast congressional election by a narrow margin.
Before settling down to lunch, McCain bounded through the crowded restaurant shaking hands andposing for photographs with lunchtime patrons.
He was overheard remarking on the "great sausages here." The restaurant's specialties are"Bahama Mama" bratwurst and cream puffs.
"Can we have a couple of cream puffs to go, too?" he asked.
Watch McCain's Columbus town hall meeting at about 6:30 p.m. On 10TV.com.
