INDEPENDENCE, MO. — Sen. Barack Obama said Monday that no candidate should use patriotism as a "political sword" in the presidential race, vowing to push back against charges that he is not fervent about his country.
Yet even as Obama repeated his call for a new brand of politics that avoids personal attacks, the day was dominated by an old-style clash over the military credentials of his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.
Supporters of the two candidates traded accusations of shabby campaigning, a squabble that evoked memories of the infamous "Swift boat" allegations that dogged Democrat John F. Kerry's campaign in 2004.
Obama distanced himself from that dispute. In a speech here, Obama said he would not let anyone question his patriotism. At the same time, he declared off-limits any attacks on McCain's record as a Vietnam War veteran.
McCain, he said, "endured physical torment in service to our country. . . . And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides."
Yet even as Obama spoke, a back-and-forth raged over McCain's military record.
McCain supporters held a conference call with reporters in which they denounced comments made Sunday by an Obama backer, retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark.
Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," Clark took direct aim at what is often viewed as McCain's greatest strength: military acumen.
Clark said that McCain was "untested and untried."
When moderator Bob Schieffer said that unlike McCain, Obama had not been shot down in a fighter plane, Clark replied:
"Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."
McCain often has joked on the campaign trail that getting captured by the Vietnamese was no great feat.
At a news conference Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., however, McCain struck back at Clark. "I think that that kind of thing is unnecessary," McCain said. "I am proud of my record of service, and I have plenty of friends and leaders who will attest to that."
On their morning conference call with reporters, McCain supporters -- calling themselves the "truth squad" -- accused the Obama campaign of denigrating McCain's service as a naval aviator.
