WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- The campaign for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama lashed out at a senior adviser to Republican John McCain over a remark he made about terrorism.
In a conference call with reporters, Obama campaign surrogate Richard Ben-Veniste, who was a member of the Sept. 11 Commission, accused McCain adviser Charlie Black of politicizing terrorism, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
In an article in Fortune magazine, Black said a terrorist attack on American soil before the November election would be a "big advantage" to McCain, the presumptive GOP candidate for president.
Ben-Veniste said the remark provided a "very disappointing glimpse into the thinking of one of McCain's closest advisers."
Ben-Veniste said it is not his call whether McCain should fire Black, the Times reported.
"I don't think it's up to us to suggest how Senator McCain staffs his campaign," Ben-Veniste said. "I think the remarks were so out of place that they call for some recalibration in the thinking and perhaps a greater adherence to principle here in staying away from the politics of fear."
