Campaigns take a breather for 9/11

WASHINGTON -- The heated presidential race paused Thursday as Barack Obama and John McCain marked the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, though Obama subtly criticized President George W. Bush, noting that those responsible remain at large.

The two presidential candidates differ sharply over foreign policy and security following the attacks, but have agreed to suspend all TV ads critical of each other to mark the day terrorists forced four airplanes to crash into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in Washington, killing nearly 3,000 people.

McCain, at a simple ceremony in remote and rural Shanksville, noted his own life might have been saved that day as Investigators believe some of the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 rushed the cockpit to stop the terrorists from using that plane as a weapon against the U.S. Capitol.

"Hundreds, if not thousands, of people at work in that building when that fateful moment occurred could have been destroyed, along with a beautiful symbol of our freedom," McCain said. "They, and very possibly I, owe our lives to the passengers who summoned the courage and love necessary to deprive our depraved and hateful enemies their terrible triumph."

All aboard were killed when the plane went down.

In a statement issued earlier Thursday morning, Obama called on Americans to renew "that spirit of service and that sense of common purpose" that followed the attacks. He added: "Let us remember that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 are still at large, and must be brought to justice."

The two candidates have often sparred over who is best able to lead the country when it comes to issues of national security, with McCain portraying himself as the seasoned foreign policy veteran and Obama trying to link his opponent with the unpopular Iraq war policies of President George W. Bush.

Obama, an opponent of the Iraq war, has argued that the United States has neglected the war in Afghanistan and as a result the Taliban has strengthened there. He argues that the U.S. needs to move troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. The Illinois senator has also highlighted the failure of the Bush administration to capture Osama bin Laden, the purported mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks who is believed to be hiding in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

McCain, who has supported the Iraq war, has resisted efforts to set a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying it could endanger the fragile security there. He also supports an unspecified increase in troops in Afghanistan but not at the expense of the war in Iraq.

The two were to visit ground zero together in New York later in the day for a wreath-laying in the pit that marks the largest loss of life in the attacks. Then they will appear together at a forum at Columbia University to discuss their views on public service.

A joint statement from the campaigns said they wanted to visit ground zero in thanks for all emergency responders who served during and after the attacks as well as the military troops still defending the nation.

"We will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones," the statement said.

Earlier, Obama had lunch in New York with former President Bill Clinton, who predicted Obama will defeat McCain "'pretty handily,'" prompting Obama to respond: "He knows a little something about politics."

Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, was to mark the anniversary at an American Legion post in suburban Cleveland with an invitation-only gathering of area police, firefighters and other first responders.

Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, meanwhile, was in her home state of Alaska, attending an Army ceremony to send her eldest son, Track, off to duty in Iraq and taking interviews with ABC News.

The respite from campaign attacks marks a rare moment of political tranquility in what has become an increasingly negative campaign to win voters before the Nov. 4 election. It follows this week's harsh exchange of words between the two campaigns over comments Obama made that the McCain camp called "sexist." Obama denied the accusation and in turn blasted the McCain campaign for using underhanded smear tactics.

Obama is looking to regain the upper hand in the presidential race after McCain received a boost from last week's Republican National Convention and his selection of Palin. Opinion polls now show McCain tied or with a narrow lead over Obama nationally. Quinnipiac University polls released early Thursday show Obama leading in two states that could determine the election, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and McCain ahead in one, Florida.

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