Bottom Line: Obama Trip off to a Good Start
George says Obama has so far avoided mistakes on his foreign trip.
July 21, 2008— -- Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., trip to Iraq has renewed focus on the cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy -- the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq by 2010.
Obama's presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had hoped to take the spotlight off of the Illinois senator's foreign trip, by talking about energy policy and what he would do to lower gas prices and find new sources of oil. But his message has been drowned out by repeated questions about his difference with Obama on the war.
ABC's chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos talked with "World News" anchor Charlie Gibson about the Obama trip.
GIBSON: So, how is (the trip) going for Obama?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Half way through the trip, it's going about as well as it possibly could go for Sen. Obama. He's hit all his marks. He's met with the prime ministers of Iraq and Afghanistan, the commander of our troops on the ground in Iraq, (and) without making a major mistake, which is important.
And, despite this major difference with Sen. McCain on the surge itself, there's been a blurring of lines on the foreign policy, generally. He agrees now with McCain on more troops for Afghanistan. He agrees with Prime Minister Maliki in Iraq, apparently, on a timeline for withdrawal. And even on the issue of Iran -- since the Bush administration sent a representative to meet with the Iranians last week -- there is a blurring of the lines there (and) that all helps Barack Obama.
GIBSON: This has got to be very frustrating for John McCain. As Ron Claiborne pointed out that he wants to make his points, he wants to get coverage, and yet everything seems to swarm around Barack Obama.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The good news for John McCain is that this will be six or seven days on national security policy, where he still does have an advantage over Barack Obama.
The bad news is that Barack Obama has all the anchors going over on this trip. He has a big press corp with him, it looks like a presidential trip. The danger for Obama is that he's spending an awful lot of time on foreign policy when most Americans are focused on the economy.
GIBSON: All right. George Stephanopoulos looking at the Obama trip. Thank you.