TBILISI, Georgia (AFP) — Cindy McCain, wife of US Republican presidential candidate John McCain, on Tuesday visited refugees in Georgia, insisting the timing of her trip had no link to the Democratic convention.
Cindy McCain visited a school and former government building housing hundreds of Georgians forced to leave their homes for the relative safety of Tbilisi in the conflict with Russia.
"Each time I see and talk with refugees it breaks my heart," McCain told reporters after visiting the two camps which are supported by the World Food Programme (WFP).
"The only place these people want to be is home. But they cannot go home because of what happened to them and because of the situation that the Russians have caused."
"My job in all of this is to make sure the international community does not forget what is going on here," said McCain.
John McCain fiercely condemned Russia's actions in its conflict with Georgia, and demanded that Moscow be barred from the Group of Eight rich nations club as punishment.
Her visit to Georgia came a day after Michelle Obama, the wife of her husband's democratic challenger, pledged to the Democratic National Convention that Barack Obama would be an "extraordinary president".
"Did I do this (trip) because it is during to Democratic National Convention?" asked Cindy McCain, wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt.
"The answer is no. I could not come any quicker. The timing just happens to be right now."
"It is important for us see at first hand what is going on and hear the stories from the displaced people and our friends the Saakashvilis as well," she said, referring to President Mikheil Saakashvili and his wife.
Reporters noticed that Cindy McCain was wearing a blue brace on her right arm, which she said was necessitated by an over-zealous supporter accidentally tearing ligaments in her forearm during a handshake at a Michigan rally.
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