McCain opened today’s call by expressing some satisfaction with recent polls giving him a lead in a head to head match-up against Obama. He also took the opportunity to hit Obama again over his comments in the most recent Democratic debate that he would consider moving troops back into Iraq if al Qaeda was establishing a base there. McCain said “not only might al Qaeda establish a base there, al Qaeda has a base there and in the words of General Petraeus it is now the central battleground in the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. I agree with him, and al Qaeda is one the run but they are not defeated in Iraq.” He then took questions. Geraghty always posts something resembling a transcript, so check that out if you want the minutes of the call. Of particular interest… Powerline’s Paul Mirengoff asked McCain if he had a response to today’s George Will column, noting that Will had characterized McCain as a man of “towering moral vanity.” McCain responded that “we will have to agree to disagree on this specific issue of campaign finance reform.” Mirengoff also asked whether it was true that McCain had refused to shake hands with FEC commissioner Brad Smith. McCain didn’t hesitate, “it’s true…there was no reason to shake his hand, he had basically attacked my character…I’m certainly not ashamed or embarrassed that if someone attacks my character and integrity, no I’m not going to shake their hand.” I asked McCain whether he had any comment on the New York Philharmonic’s North Korea tour and, more generally, on the status of the Six Party talks.
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