Sneak Peek: 'We Can Run the YouTube Spot'

March 31, 2008— -- John McCain's "100 years" comment about Iraq was perfect fodder for Barack Obama.

Asked in January about President Bush's willingness to keep a US troop presence in Iraq for 50 years, McCain cut off the questioner, saying, "Make it a hundred."

"We've been in Japan for 60 years," said McCain. "We've been in South Korea for 50 years, or so. That's fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed."

Even though the Arizona senator explained that he was referring to stationing troops in Iraq for 100 years rather than engaging in a century-long war, McCain's comment was a potential gift for Obama . . . as long as the Illinois Democrat played it straight.

If Obama had simply said on a regular basis that McCain is willing to stay in Iraq for 100 years, the Illinois Democrat would have been on solid ground -- and many in his audience might STILL assume that an on-going war is what McCain had in mind or that such a war would be inevitable.

Obama could also sensibly say, as he tried to do Monday, that without a "clear definition of success," U.S. fighting in Iraq could stretch on for much longer.

But rather than sticking to an airtight retelling of McCain's words, Obama deviated from McCain's comment on more than one occasion.

This is how Obama characterized McCain's position during a Feb. 9th town-hall meeting in Bangor, Maine: "And when it comes to foreign policy, John McCain says he wants to fight a hundred year war, a hundred years he says, as long as it takes. That is not designed to make us safe that is simply stubbornness. That is designed to try to make a bad decision look better." LINK

Obama was confronted on Monday for converting McCain's willingness to stay in Iraq into the unsubstantiated claim that McCain "wants to fight a hundred-year war."

While speaking to reporters at the Wo Go gas station in Lititz, Pa., Obama was asked by ABC's David Wright if his comments amounted to the kind of politics as usual that the Illinois Democrat often accuses Hillary Clinton of practicing.

"No, no, no, no. I don't think. I don't think. I don't think it's unfair at all," said Obama (ignoring comments he made in Maine and elsewhere). "I mean we can run the YouTube spot."

Watch Obama's extended Monday response HERE:

Watch McCain's original comments which were made at a January town-hall meeting in New Hampshire HERE.

The kicker: "I'm just quoting back what he said, unless you tell me that's a misquote." --Barack Obama on John McCain at a media availability in Lititz, Pa.

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- 11:45 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Wilkes-Barre, PA

-- 3:25 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Scranton, PA

HILLARY CLINTON

-- 11:15 am ET: Delivers remarks to the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Philadelphia, PA

-- 2:30 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Wilkes-Barre, PA

-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Erie, PA

BILL CLINTON

-- 11:45 am ET: Attends event with voters, Havre, MT

-- 3:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Great Falls, MT

-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Helena, MT

-- 7:45 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Butte, MT

As for the Republicans. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 10:15 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Alexandria, VA

-- Appears on the Late Show with David Letterman

At the White House and Beyond. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 2:00 am ET: Participates in arrival ceremony, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 2:20 am ET: Meets with the President of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 4:00 am ET: Meets with the President of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 5:05 am ET: Attends social lunch with the President of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 6:20 am ET: Meets with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 7:45 am ET: Visits St. Sophia's Cathedral, Kiev, Ukraine

-- 8:45 am ET: Visits School 57, Kiev, Ukraine

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT

-- 10:00 am ET: Releases report on construction spending for February, Washington, DC

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Clinton Says She's in Race Till Bitter End LINK

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: McCain's '100 Year' Remark Hands Ammo to War Critics LINK

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: Pelosi: President Should Consider Boycotting Olympics' Opening LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Hillary Claims She "Spoke Out Against" NAFTA Starting in 1992 LINK

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Day 1: McCain's Service to America Tour LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Likely to Be Omitted from McCain's Autobiography LINK

Sen. Obama claims his characterization of a McCain Iraq statement is correct. LINK

Convention or Bust?!
The "get Hillary out of the race now" fever seems to have subsided for now. LINK

McCain Kicks Off 'Biography Tour'
McCain calls himself the "son and grandson of admirals" during Mississippi speech. LINK

Paulson Calls for Massive Oversight Reform
Treasury Secretary offers significant restructuring plan for federal agencies. LINK

Dems Divided in Pennsylvania
Gov. Rendell and Sen. Casey analyze where the candidates stand in the polls. LINK

No Surrender for Clinton
The New York senator vows to stay in the presidential race until the convention. LINK

Obama's Bowling Blues
The senator racks up gutter balls while campaigning at a Pa. bowling alley. LINK

Cheers and Jeers: Bush's First Pitch
The president gets a mixed response as he kicks off the MLB season. LINK

Obama Chases Hillary in Pa.
In Pennsylvania, the senator is trying to cut in on Clinton's lead. LINK

Will Bush Plan Protect the Economy?
Proposal calls for giving the Fed more enforcement teeth, but is it enough? LINK

CIA on Al Qaeda's Safe Haven
Director says terrorist organization's new agents are more western looking. LINK

Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr orders his men off the streets. LINK

McCain and Iraq
The senator's political fate seems tied to the war Iraq. LINK

Rendell and Kerry: Democrats United?
Clinton supporter Gov. Ed Rendell holds out hope for "dream ticket." LINK

Lieberman in McCain's Corner
Former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman's journey across the aisle. LINK

Roundtable: Economic Meltdown?
George Will, Donna Brazile, Paul Krugman and Robert Reich. LINK

The Green Room: Buyer's Remorse
Behind the scenes with George Will, Claire Shipman, Jay Carney, Cynthia Tucker. LINK

Clinton Still Has A Chance
Strategist Bob Shrum: Clinton now being blamed for all negative campaigning. LINK

Obama's Magical Bus Tour
Sen. Obama sets out on a 6-day tour hoping to narrow Clinton's lead in Penn. LINK

Obama Wants Hillary to Stay
Democrat says, "Clinton can run as long as she wants." LINK

Obama-Like Philly Mayor Backs Clinton
Michael Nutter, who's been compared to Obama, says he'd have left Obama church. LINK