Democrat Obama rejects charges of flip-flopping

By Caren Bohan POWDER SPRINGS, Georgia (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama rejected charges on Tuesday that he has shifted positions on Iraq and other issues as part of a move to the political centre now that he is his party's nominee. As he positions himself for the battle against Republican John McCain, the Illinois senator softened an earlier vow to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement, did not oppose a Supreme Court decision striking down Washington's gun ban and said he would support expanding the government's wiretap authority. Most recently, he signalled greater flexibility on his pledge to quickly pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, telling reporters last week he might "refine" his views based on what happens on the ground. Asked about his Iraq policy at a town hall meeting in Powder Springs,... [read full story]