McCain plots itinerary in Obama's absence

WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, likely Republican presidential nominee, says he'll visit battleground states as his Democratic counterpart visits battle zones abroad.

McCain, R-Ariz., scheduled visits to Colorado, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania to push his policies on jobs, energy and healthcare while Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., travels to the Middle East and Europe next week, USA Today reported Friday.

McCain adviser Charles Black said McCain is prepared to critique Obama's five-nation trip, which the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate has described as an opportunity to "assess the situation in countries … critical to American security."

McCain and other Republicans have criticized Obama's foreign policy expertise, noting he hasn't visited Iraq in more than 2 1/2 years.

"If they want us to respond to what he's doing over there, I'm sure we could make the time," Black said adding that the McCain campaign will seek equal time if television networks run interviews with Obama.