The Republican presidential pack -minus front-runner George W. Bush – got together for its first debate last night and joined in blasting President Clinton’s “feckless” foreign policy.
“This administration has conducted a feckless photo-op foreign policy which may cost us in blood and treasure,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the New Hampshire debate.
Publisher Steve Forbes said Clinton is “promiscuous in putting our troops around the world” and added: “What we need is a real foreign policy. This administration clearly does not have one.”
Bush skipped the debate, saying he’d promised last June to go to a GOP dinner in next-door Vermont. He’ll skip another debate next week, but will be at one Dec. 2.
Bush’s absence gave an opening to McCain – now emerging as his chief rival – who spoke more softly than the others but vividly evoked the need for change, and took a more moderate right-to-life stance on abortion.
That could appeal to the orphaned supporters of Elizabeth Dole, who quit the race this week – many of her fans were moderate women.