'I Thought It Was Wrong at the Time'

May 01, 2008— -- John McCain said Thursday that he believed five years ago that the "Mission Accomplished' banner was wrong.

"To state the obvious, I thought it was wrong at the time," said McCain. "I thought phrases like 'a few dead-enders,' 'last throes,' all of those comments contributed over time to the frustration and sorrow of Americans because those statements and comments did not comport with the facts on the ground."

The veracity of McCain's claim about how he felt regarding the banner, which appeared behind President Bush on the deck of the USS Lincoln on May 1, 2003, was challenged Thursday when the Democratic National Committee unearthed video of McCain talking approvingly of the banner in a June 11, 2003 Fox News interview.

In that interview, McCain pointed to the banner to bolster his contention that major conflict had ended in Iraq and that it was appropriate for the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold post-conflict hearings.

"Then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?" McCain asked Neil Cavuto after the Fox News Channel anchor said "many argue the conflict isn't over."

McCain went on to say in his 2003 interview that reconstruction of Iraq would be a "long, long, difficult process" while maintaining that the "the major conflict is over, the regime change has been accomplished" and that it's "very appropriate" for the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold post-conflict hearings.

"I remain confident that we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," he added.

Watch today's comments here.

Watch the 2003 comments here.

Hillary Clinton on "Nightline"

The woman whose remarks the Iranian government considers "provocative, unwarranted, and irresponsible" appears Thursday evening on Nightline.

Hillary Clinton talks to Nightline's Cynthia McFadden about the Iranian government's criticism, her intention to "get to those June contests," and whether Abraham Lincoln is really her idea of a dream date.

She also explains why she doesn't think Bill Clinton will have an office in the White House.

"I gave up everything when I went into the White House, you know, 15 years ago," she said. "But he has a lot of very important projects around the world that he's going to keep working on."

Sunday Showdown:

On Sunday May 4, George Stephanopoulos will anchor a special edition of "This Week" from Indianapolis, Ind., with Hillary Clinton.

Two days before the crucial Indiana and North Carolina primaries, the former first lady will take questions from Stephanopoulos as well as from voters in studio in Indianapolis and others via satellite from North Carolina.

Clinton's appearance on "This Week" occurs opposite Barack Obama's appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

McCain Picks His Convention Manager:

Politico's Jonathan Martin reported Thursday that McCain's campaign has selected DCI's Doug Goodyear, a veteran Republican public relations executive, to help run the Republican convention in September, according to GOP sources familiar with the decision.

The RNC announced that  Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., will chair the platform committee and Steve Duffield, a former top aide to Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., will serve as executive director.

Grover's VP Pick Talks to Pres Club:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) speaks Friday to the National Press Club at 12:00 pm ET.

Per ABC's Kate McCarthy, Jindal will give a speech on "Bold Reform that Works."

Grover Norquist, the anti-tax activist who leads an influential weekly meeting of conservatives, recently gushed about Jindal while speaking to ABC News about possible running mates for John McCain.

"Bobby Jindal is my personal first choice as to what I think he should do, not what I think he will do, but I think it's what he should do," Norquist told ABC News. "Bobby Jindal wins in the South. Bobby Jindal has passed through an entire reform agenda through the most corrupt state in the nation in two months."

"The reason he can move is that he's already done everything that you need to do in that state," Norquist added. "He passed transparency so that every check in that state would be put up on the web. . . He passed tuition tax credits. He's got a series of tax cuts on businesses and he's getting rid of various taxes. It's huge, huge."

"He's a Roman Catholic," he continued. "He's a person of color. Unlike the skinny Al Sharpton the D's are running, our guy is post-racial. The other guy went from Barry to Barack. Our guy went from some Hindu name that I don't know to Bobby Jindal. You know where he got Bobby from? The Brady Bunch."

The kicker:

"I'm a big, big fan."

--Hillary Clinton to Nightline's Cynthia McFadden on Dr. McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey's character on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Attends event in Indiana

-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Charlotte, NC

-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends North Carolina Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Raleigh, NC

HILLARY CLINTON

-- Campaigns in North Carolina

-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends North Carolina Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Raleigh, NC

BILL CLINTON

-- Attends event in Greenfield, IN

-- Attends event in Beech Grove, IN

-- Attends event in Avon, IN

-- Attends event in Lebanon, IN

As for the Republicans. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 12:00 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Denver, CO

-- 1:15 pm ET: Holds media availability, Denver, CO

At the White House and Beyond. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 11:55 am ET: Tours World Wide Technology, St. Louis, MO

-- 12:20 pm ET: Speaks on the economy, Maryland Heights, MO

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY

-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks at a reception for Oklahoma Victory 2008, Tulsa, OK

LABOR DEPARTMENT

-- 8:30 am ET: Releases unemployment statistics for April

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT

-- 10:00 am ET: Releases statistics on factory orders for March

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Katie Escherich: Clinton Says Calls to Drop Out Are 'Just Idle Talk' LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Hillary Clinton Super-D/Bill Clinton DNC Chair Switches to Obama LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton Ally Switches to Obama, Expects 'Attack Dogs' LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Bread Prices Soar but Who or What's to Blame? LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton Informal Adviser on Hoosiers in 1992: "These People Are S—" LINK

ABC News' Justin Rood: Iraq Rape Claims Push Senate Panel to Act LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: That Joe Andrew Defection LINK

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama: Rivals Support of Gas Tax Holiday a 'Gimmick' LINK

ABC News' Sarah Baker: Unpledged Super-D Suggests Waiting Till Convention LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Older Hoosier to Obama on Gas Tax Holiday: "A Lot of Us Are Nothing But Short-Termers Anyway" LINK

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama's Top Ten List LINK

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson: Trippi: Edwards Should Have Stayed In LINK

ABC News' Eloise Harper: Robert Kennedy Jr. Says Family Members Are Wrong in Supporting Obama LINK

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama Eyes AF1 LINK

ABC News' Eloise Harper: Clinton Backs Girl Horse in Kentucky Derby LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

Hillary's Kentucky Derby Look

Sen. Clinton dons a derby hat outside her Louisville, KY campaign headquarters. LINK

Clinton to O'Reilly: 'Iran Is a Danger'

The candidate talks to Bill O'Reilly about her strategy for dealing with Iran. LINK

Bush Urges Congress to Approve Food Fund

President Bush calls for approval of $770 million for international food aid. LINK

Behind the Scenes with Hillary Clinton

Clinton on her husband's role in the White House and whether Obama is an elitist. LINK

Iraq: 'Mission Accomplished'

5 years after president's declaration that "major combat operations" were over. LINK

Super Delegate Switch

A former Democratic Party Chairman under President Clinton supports Obama. LINK

Superdelegates Waiting Until Convention?

N.C. Superdelegate David Parker says Dems will have a "better view in August." LINK

Clinton on Superdelegate Defection

Clinton says she's not worried about Joe Andrew's endorsement of Obama. LINK

Hillary: No White House Office for Bill

Clinton says her husband is "going to stay very focused on his foundation." LINK

'The View': Life Is 'Poopie' With Bush

The ladies compare President Bush's administration to the Bill Clinton years LINK

Supderdelegate Flip Flips Support

Former DNC Chair was once a Clinton advocate, but now supports Obama. LINK

The Superdelegate Switch

Fmr. DNC Chair Joe Andrew changes allegiance from Clinton to Obama. LINK

Sam on Rev. Wright Fallout

Sam Donaldson says Wright's storm cloud may have a silver lining for Obama. LINK

Hill Hoodwinks Hoosier Voters

Clinton cries foul over factory closing. But could her husband have stopped it? LINK

Obama's Lead Slipping?

New poll: Hillary Clinton fairs better in matchup with John McCain. LINK

Could Paula Be the Next to Go?

Judge's comments on the latest "Idol" leave many questioning show's authenticity LINK

'The View': Life Is 'Poopie' With Bush

The ladies compare President Bush's administration to the Bill Clinton years LINK