McCain and Obama condemn conflict in Georgia

McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, lashed out at Russia's "path of violent aggression" and warned of "severe, long-term negative consequences" for U.S.-Russia ties.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat, also called for an end to Russian hostilities. But he tempered his comments, saying: "We seek a future of cooperative engagement with the Russian government and friendship with the Russian people." He said Russia could play its "rightful role as a great nation -- but with that role comes the responsibility to act as a force for progress."

The contrasting tenor of their statements came as aides to both presidential candidates scrambled to reconfigure their policies toward Russia -- reckoning with a war that, analysts said, marked a major turning point in the already tense relationship between Russia and the United States.

Advisors to both campaigns acknowledged that, no matter who wins the Oval Office, the next president will face even greater challenges in fixing what both candidates have called a flawed foreign policy under President Bush.

"Both candidates recognize, I'm sure, that this means they will confront an entirely different strategic map of Europe and central Asia than they anticipated," said Richard Holbrooke, a former United Nations ambassador under President Clinton who recently began advising the Obama campaign. "That's because Russia changed the rules of the game."

For McCain and Obama, the war in Georgia has forced a pivot in a campaign where the foreign policy debate has focused primarily on the Middle East and terrorism.

The issue poses challenges for both as they balance the need to condemn Russia's actions while addressing the reality that the next administration will need Moscow's assistance in confronting potential nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea.

McCain had sought to highlight his support for U.S.-Russia cooperation on nuclear security issues, delivering a major address in May in which he declared that "Russia and the United States are no longer mortal enemies."

McCain used that address as a public break from Bush's unpopular foreign policy, embracing a new treaty with Russia and other efforts to reduce the number of nuclear weapons.