"The Iranians were emboldened, the Syrians were emboldened, the North Koreans were emboldened," McCain said.
Christians United for Israel, led by Texas televangelist John Hagee, was formed a year ago by pastors who believe the Bible instructs Christians to protect Israel. Several thousand members are meeting in Washington this week to lobby Congress.
Despite McCain's sometimes tense relationship with evangelicals, his speech won frequent applause and several standing ovations.
One woman's perspective WASHINGTON -- Elizabeth Edwards said yesterday that her husband, Democrat John Edwards, would be a better advocate for women as president than his rival Hillary Clinton.
"I think one of the things that make me so completely comfortable with this is that keeping that door open to women is actually more a policy of John's than Hillary's," Edwards said in an interview published in the online magazine Salon. "I'm not convinced she'd be as good an advocate for women. She needs a rationale greater for her campaign than I've heard."
Elizabeth Edwards said she sympathizes with Clinton, who is running to be the first female president. She recalled the challenges she faced early in her career as a female lawyer and said she understands the pressures Clinton must feel.
"Sometimes you feel you have to behave as a man and not talk about women's issues. I'm sympathetic -- she wants to be commander in chief," she said.
A Clinton spokesman said the campaign would have no comment on Elizabeth Edwards's remarks.
Among other things, Mrs. Edwards criticized Clinton for not producing a plan for universal healthcare, calling it a women's issue. She also said Clinton should speak out more about poverty, calling women -- especially single mothers -- the "face of poverty."
John Edwards, who is trailing Clinton and Barack Obama in most polls, has tried to make poverty a signature campaign issue. He's currently in the middle of a three-day, multistate tour of impoverished communities.
