DEBATE: McCain on the Surge

Thu, January 10, 2008 - 9:39 PM

As expected, the troop “surge” comes up, with a question pegged to John McCain’s editorial in the Wall Street Journal today.

McCain scores a point, I suspect, with military voters here, pointing out that he called for that particular approach before former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did.

McCain says it’s up to commanders there to decide when troops come home.

Rudy Giuliani jumps in on the surge bandwagon, too. McCain gets “great credit” for supporting the surge, but also points out that he supported the surge when Bush announced it. But not beforehand, McCain says.

Ron Paul pipes up, and says McCain, “thinks we should be there for 100 years if necessary.”

McCain seems to be getting the most time on this topic.