WASHINGTON: Republican presidential nominee John McCain has defended running mate Sarah Palin, even as she contradicted his policy against talking publicly about attacking terrorist targets in Pakistan.
McCain chided Democrat Barack Obama during Friday’s presidential debate for saying publicly he supports striking terrorist targets inside Pakistan if the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to do so.
McCain said during the debate “you don’t say that out loud.” But on Saturday, Palin said much the same thing to a customer at a Philadelphia restaurant, with the press nearby. Palin said “if that’s what we have to do to stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should.” The exchange was captured on video and reported by CBS News.
Osama Bin Laden and other top Al-Qaeda leaders are thought to be hiding in tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Obama has said he would support sending American troops into Pakistan to attack such high-value targets.
Palin, the governor of Alaska, energized McCain’s campaign when he chose her as a running mate just before the Republican convention. But polls show Palin’s popularity waning among some as she has struggled to answer questions about foreign policy in the few interviews she has given.
“She was in a conversation with some young man,” McCain said during his own interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “She understands and has stated repeatedly that we’re not going to do anything except in America’s national security interest and we are not going to, quote, announce it ahead of time.” McCain said Palin’s exchange was not an official policy statement.
“I don’t think most Americans think that that’s a definitive policy statement made by Gov. Palin,” McCain said.
