McCain Jabs at Obama, Lavishes Praise on Clinton

John McCain took full aim at Barack Obama tonight, now that "pundits and party elders" have declared him to be the Democratic nominee, Politico reports. He ridiculed Obama for repeatedly trying to link him to President Bush's policies and trumpeted his independent credentials. Obama has bought into "so many failed ideas," he said, including the current Bush-backed energy bill. Before the stump speech, though, he lavished praise on Hillary Clinton.

"The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received," McCain said. "As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend." (More John McCain stories.)