Democrat Barack Obama says he’s always been opening to refining his Iraq policy but blamed Republican John McCain’s campaign for suggesting “we were changing our policy when we haven’t.”

The Illinois senator called a second news conference of the day Thursday address the GOP criticism of him and resulting questions about where he stands on Iraq.

He said what he learns from military commanders on his upcoming trip to Iraq will refine his policy but “not the 16-month timetable” for withdrawing U.S. troops from combat in Iraq. He said what he learns could affect how many residual troops might be needed to train the Iraqi army and police.