McCain adviser's comment on attack criticized

A top adviser to Sen. John McCain said a terrorist attack in the United States would be a political benefit to the Republican nominee, a comment that was immediately disputed by the candidate and denounced by his Democratic rival.

Charlie Black, one of McCain's most senior political advisers, told Fortune magazine that a fresh terrorist attack "certainly would be a big advantage to him." He also said the December assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, while "unfortunate," helped McCain win the Republican primary by focusing attention on national security.

"His knowledge and ability to talk about it re-emphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us," Black told the magazine in its upcoming issue.

Asked about the comments while campaigning in California, McCain said, "I cannot imagine why he would say it. It's not true. I've worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear."

He added, "I cannot imagine it, and so, if he said that — and I don't know the context — I strenuously disagree."

In a strongly worded statement issued Monday afternoon, Barack Obama's campaign called Black's comments a "complete disgrace."

Black and the campaign appeared to quickly understand Monday he had gone too far.

"I deeply regret the comments. They were inappropriate," said Black, who was traveling with McCain. "I recognize that John McCain has devoted his entire adult life to protecting his country and placing its security before every other consideration."

Prize proposed for better battery

Sen. John McCain proposed a $300 million prize Monday, paid by the government, for the inventor of a better battery to power electric or hybrid vehicles, with the goal of spurring innovation to get Americans off their gasoline habit.

In a speech in Fresno, Calif., the Republican presidential candidate proposed the reward — which equates to about $1 for every person in America — along with tougher mileage standards for automakers and large tax credits for the purchasers of alternative-fuel, hybrid or electric cars.

Historians said the offer of a multimillion-dollar prize appears to be a first for a presidential campaign. Author Richard Shenkman, whose books include "Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History," said the idea brings a game-show ethos to American politics.

"It's the 'Let's Make a Deal' or 'The Price Is Right' mentality," he said.

The reward would go to "development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars," McCain said.

Taxpayers would put up the prize money, and the winner would be chosen by a panel of government and private-sector experts, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.

Most automobile manufacturers are working with lithium-ion battery makers on this technology, said Spencer Quong, senior vehicles engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The main challenges are increasing durability, lowering the cost and maintaining safety, he said, and commercial development could be in the "near future ... maybe five years."

Also

Joint appearance: Former rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton plan to campaign together Friday in the small New Hampshire town of Unity, their first joint appearance meant to ease tensions over the closely fought Democratic primary. The location, announced Monday, was chosen not only for the symbolism of its name, but because each candidate received exactly 107 votes there in the Jan. 8 primary.

Seal: A presidential seal graphically altered with symbols representing Barack Obama's campaign of change was just for one time and will not be used again, a campaign spokeswoman said Monday. Obama's campaign changed the original Latin phrase, "E pluribus unum," which means, "Out of many, one" to "Vero possumus," which can be roughly translated to his "Yes, we can" slogan.

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