McCain: ‘Who is the real Barack Obama?’

Republican presidential nominee John McCain on Monday used some of his harshest language to rip Democratic rival Barack Obama but stopped short of the personal attacks his running mate has launched. 

The Arizona senator, speaking in the battleground state of New Mexico, described Sen. Obama (Ill.) as a candidate who will promise one thing and do another. In addition, McCain said the American people have not received enough answers from the Democrat.

{mosads}“For a guy who’s already authored two memoirs, he’s not exactly an open book,” McCain stated.

“Whatever the question, whatever the issue, there's always a back story with Sen. Obama,” McCain added. “All people want to know is: What has this man ever actually accomplished in government? What does he plan for America? In short: Who is the real Barack Obama? But ask such questions and all you get in response is another barrage of angry insults.”

While he slammed his rival, McCain stayed away from personal attacks of the kind his running mate Sarah Palin and top surrogates have launched over the past few days, such as trying to tie Obama closely to former Weather Underground member William Ayers.

The Arizona senator accused Obama of seeking to “distract” voters instead of answering questions about his record.

“My opponent's touchiness every time he is questioned about his record should make us only more concerned,” McCain stated.

The Obama campaign responded by portraying the Republican nominee as “angry.”

“On a day when the markets are plunging and the credit crisis is putting millions of jobs at risk, the one truly angry candidate in this race kept up his strategy of ‘turning the page’ on the economy by unleashing another frustrated tirade against Barack Obama,” said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor.