Zikiwa Zimebaki Siku 38, Obama na McCain Watoana Jasho Kwenye Mdahalo

Katika Mdahalo wao wa kwanza kuonyeshwa kwenye TV, Sen. John McCain amemsema Sen. Barack Obama kuwa ni mtu ambaye hana uelewa katika mambo ya msingi, huku Sen. Obama akimfananisha mambo yake McCain na rais wa sasa Bush.

"I'm afraid Sen. Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy," McCain said as the two traded jabs over Iraq.

Obama shot back, "I absolutely understand the difference between tactics and strategy. And the strategic question that the president has to ask is not whether or not we are employing a particular approach in the country once we have made the decision to be there."

McCain drew from his experience overseas as he tried to portray himself as the more qualified candidate.

"Incredibly, incredibly Sen. Obama didn't go to Iraq for 900 days and never asked for a meeting with Gen. [David] Petraeus," he said.