REPUBLICAN HAGEL DEFENDS OBAMA FROM McCAIN CRITICISM

A Republican senator from Nebraska is defending Senator Obama from criticism by the McCain campaign over his position on the Iraq war and his decision to cancel a visit with American troops in Germany. Mr. McCain has stepped up his attacks on Mr. Obama in recent days, saying he “would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign.” He also unveiled a television ad that questions Mr. Obama’s skipping the troop visit. Senator Hagel of Nebraska, a longtime friend of Mr. McCain’s, said both moves were inappropriate. “I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, ‘You’re less patriotic than me. I’m more patriotic,'” Mr. Hagel said yesterday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He added: “John’s better than that.” Mr. Hagel, an opponent of the Iraq war, traveled to the Middle East with Mr. Obama and although he has not endorsed either candidate, he has appeared much closer to the Democrat in recent months.

McCAIN CALLS WALL STREET ‘THE VILLAIN’ IN SUBPRIME CRISIS

Senator McCain put the blame on Wall Street for the home mortgage credit crisis that has roiled financial markets around the world. “Wall Street is the villain in the things that happened in the subprime lending crisis and other areas where investigations and possible prosecution is going on,” Mr. McCain said during a taped appearance on ABC’s “This Week” program. The Arizona Republican, who has wrapped up his party’s presidential nomination, said he supports the housing bill passed by Congress on Saturday to stem foreclosures and aid Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the largest American mortgage-finance companies, even though it may cost taxpayers as much as $25 billion. Mr. McCain, 71, said the risk of the mortgage companies’ failure is outweighed by the potential cost.

OBAMA VOICES CONFIDENCE IN EXPANDED ELECTORAL MAP

With 100 days remaining in the race for the White House, Senator Obama says he has succeeded in expanding the electoral map in his race against Senator McCain, principally in Southern and Southwestern states but also in Montana and North Dakota. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to win all those states, but at least we’re making it a contest and giving voters something to choose from,” he said in an interview aboard his campaign jet on the way back from an overseas trip. “Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia are all states where we are competitive,” he said, adding he is going “toe-to-toe” with his rival in New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada.