Obama: McCain embracing Bush policies

Dem accuses GOP rival of favoring war at expense of fixing schools, roads

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updated 6:14 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2008

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama accused John McCain of favoring an extended war in Iraq at the expense of fixing U.S. schools and crumbling roads and bridges.

He said the billions spent in Iraq could have paid for many projects in the U.S., as well as help create jobs and head off high gas prices.

In the Democratic party's weekly radio message, Obama also blamed the nation's rising budget deficit on McCain-backed White House policies that provided "tax cut after tax cut" for the wealthy. He said McCain was "running for a third term" of the Bush administration.

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Obama also discussed his plan to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and to conclude the war in Iraq by asking the Iraqis "to take responsibility for their future." He said McCain will only continue current war policies marked by an "open-ended commitment" that Obama said has been unsuccessful.