US election: John McCain boosted by veterans campaign

By Alex Spillius in Washington John McCain's White House bid is to be boosted by a campaign featuring veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan arguing that US troops must stay on and finish the job. The £750,000 campaign launched by the 25,000-member Vets for Freedom implicitly criticises the Republican senator's anti-war Democrat rival Barack Obama, who has stated he wants to withdraw combat forces within 16 months of taking office. It is also the first major intervention in the presidential race by the kind of outside group that has been highly influential in past contests. The adverts will feature veterans talking about the accomplishments they have seen since the buildup of US troops in Iraq, which Mr McCain has strongly supported, began in early 2007. "The surge worked," says one veteran, closely followed by another... [read full story]