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McCain: A very tense and difficult time in Pakistan

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By Dan Gearino | Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:34 PM CST | () comments

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to local residents during a campaign stop in Des Moines. McCain said the death of Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto "underscores yet again the grave dangers we face in the world today and particularly in countries like Pakistan, where the forces of moderation are arrayed in a fierce battle against those who embrace violent Islamic extremism." (AP Photo)

DES MOINES — Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain put aside the usual opening jokes Thursday to give a central Iowa audience his reaction to the assassination earlier in the day of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

“Our sympathy goes out to the people of Pakistan for the loss of this fine and decent woman who came back from exile to serve her country, knowing full well she was placing her life at risk,” he said, exactly a week before the Iowa caucuses.

The unrest in Pakistan underscores one of McCain’s main selling points: his readiness to deal with the world’s military and diplomatic hot spots. The message wasn’t lost on the audience, including many undecided voters.

“We think the greatest impact on America will be terrorism and quite frankly, that’s why we’re leaning towards John McCain,” said Gordon Smith of Urbandale, a retired financial planner.

The Arizona senator spoke at a crowded Elks Lodge. He stood on a small riser in the middle of the room, with the audience all around him and a line of television cameras along the back. An elk trophy hung from the back wall, with a Santa Claus hat propped between its antlers.

McCain said the beneficiaries of the Bhutto assassination are the “radical Islamic extremists” who are trying to destabilize Pakistan, a country that has nuclear weapons.

“This is a very tense and difficult time,” he said.

McCain has had some of the most dramatic ups and downs of any presidential candidate this year. He began the year at the top, or near the top, of national polls. Then his campaign went into a tailspin over the summer, with disappointing fundraising numbers and the resignations of key staff members. He has gradually regained ground, rising to third place in several Iowa polls and challenging for the lead in New Hampshire.

Sharon Beerman of Urbandale, a retired teacher, said she’s been with McCain all along.

“Of all the candidates, both Democrat and Republican, he has the widest range of experience, and I think that will give him the greatest ability to handle whatever will come up,” she said.

McCain’s campaign was hurt this summer by his support for an immigration proposal that would have included a guest worker program. He said he has learned from the criticism of the proposal that Americans want secure borders before there is any attempt to deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants.

“I got the message,” McCain said.

Dan Gearino can be reached at 515-243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.