Republican presidential candidate John McCain is telling voters that he’s not challenging Barack Obama’s patriotism, just the Democrat’s judgment on the war in Iraq.

During a town-hall meeting Wednesday in New Mexico, McCain repeated his claim that Obama would rather forfeit than win in Iraq just to boost his own political ambitions.

Obama has called that charge a challenge to his patriotism.

McCain says Obama doesn’t care if the U.S. wins or loses, just as long as he wins the White House. The Republican also says that Obama isn’t approaching the issue rationally.

In a new radio ad, McCain says Obama would raise electric bills and would tax savings _ a charge an Obama spokesman called ridiculous.