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McCain urges closer foreign ties McCain urges closer foreign ties
(about 2 hours later)
John McCain, set to be the Republican presidential candidate, is to make a foreign policy speech urging the US to work more closely with other nations. John McCain has urged the US to work more closely with other nations, in his first big foreign policy speech as the likely Republican presidential nominee.
Senator McCain, who visited the Middle East and Europe last week, will say: "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want." Senator McCain, who visited the Middle East and Europe last week, said: "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want."
His speech later in the day is being seen as an attempt to distance himself from President Bush's foreign policy. His foreign policy speech was seen as an attempt to distance himself from President Bush's foreign policy.
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are back on the campaign trail.Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are back on the campaign trail.
The two are competing to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president in November's general election.The two are competing to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president in November's general election.
Mr McCain has already secured enough support in primary elections to be sure of being picked as the Republican Party's nominee.Mr McCain has already secured enough support in primary elections to be sure of being picked as the Republican Party's nominee.
'Safer future''Safer future'
Mr McCain has emphasised his national security credentials but has been criticised by the Democrats for offering similar foreign policy ideas as the Bush administration.Mr McCain has emphasised his national security credentials but has been criticised by the Democrats for offering similar foreign policy ideas as the Bush administration.
His speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council is being seen as an effort to distance himself from President Bush and set out his own vision in foreign policy, correspondents say. America must be a model citizen if we want others to look to us as a model John McCain
It will strengthen us to confront the transcendant challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism John McCain His speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council was seen as an effort to distance himself from President George W Bush and set out his own vision in foreign policy, correspondents say.
"We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," Mr McCain will say, according to prepared remarks released in advance. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," Mr McCain said.
"If we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity... it will strengthen us to confront the transcendant challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism." "If we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity... it will strengthen us to confront the transcendent challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism."
Mr McCain's foreign policy address comes a day after he outlined his ideas to tackle the economic downturn in the US and help those people who have lost or face losing their homes as a result of the credit crunch. Mr McCain said the US must work to attract other nations to its cause by "demonstrating the virtues of freedom and democracy" and earning the trust of its allies - and must also be ready to accept that it is not always right.
The Arizona senator said he would "not play election-year politics with the housing crisis" but urged banks to pass on the help they have been given by the government to their struggling customers. He went on: "America must be a model citizen if we want others to look to us as a model."
Economic woes
Mr McCain's foreign policy address came a day after he outlined his ideas to tackle the economic downturn in the US and help those people who have lost or face losing their homes as a result of the credit crunch.
Barack Obama is ahead of Hillary Clinton in terms of delegates wonBarack Obama is ahead of Hillary Clinton in terms of delegates won
The Arizona senator said he would "not play election-year politics with the housing crisis" but urged banks to pass on the help they have been given by the government to their struggling customers.
However, he signalled an intention to limit the role of federal government in assisting banks or small borrowers who behave recklessly.However, he signalled an intention to limit the role of federal government in assisting banks or small borrowers who behave recklessly.
"Any assistance must be temporary and must not reward people who were irresponsible at the expense of those who weren't," he said."Any assistance must be temporary and must not reward people who were irresponsible at the expense of those who weren't," he said.
The economy has emerged as the number one concern of voters in the primary season so far.The economy has emerged as the number one concern of voters in the primary season so far.
In the Democratic contest, Senator Obama is ahead of Senator Clinton in terms of the number of delegates won in the Democratic primary elections.In the Democratic contest, Senator Obama is ahead of Senator Clinton in terms of the number of delegates won in the Democratic primary elections.
But their contest is set to go all the way to the Democratic Party's national convention in August, where delegates will choose the party's nominee to run in November's presidential election. But their battle is set to go all the way to the Democratic Party's national convention in August, where delegates will choose the party's nominee to run in November's presidential election.
In another development, long-shot presidential hopeful MIke Gravel has announced he is leaving the Democratic Party to seek the nomination of the Libertarian party. Mr Obama returned to the campaign trail in North Carolina on Wednesday, after a brief holiday with his family. The state holds its primary on 6 May.
Mr Gravel was excluded from recent Democratic presidential debates because he failed to reach the threshhold either in terms of fundraising or in the opinion polls. In another development, long-shot presidential hopeful Mike Gravel has announced he is leaving the Democratic Party to seek the nomination of the Libertarian party.
Mr Gravel was excluded from recent Democratic presidential debates because he failed to reach the threshold either in terms of fundraising or in the opinion polls.