WASHINGTON (AFP) — Cindy McCain Thursday again took a jab at her rival for America's first lady, Michelle Obama, questioning her patriotism in a rare interview with US television.
Obama, wife of democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama, has been under attack for months over charges that she is unpatriotic over a comment she made on the campaign trail in February.
"For the first time in my adult life I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback," Michelle Obama said at the time.
Cindy McCain, wife of Republican hopeful John McCain, said Thursday in an interview with ABC News: "Everyone has their own experience.
"I don't know why she said what she said. All I know is that I have always been proud of my country," McCain told the network in Vietnam where she was visiting a US charity.
McCain, who is generally very discreet and stays in the background of her husband's campaign, has already shot back once, saying in a campaign appearance: "I always have been and will always be extremely proud of my country."
Michelle Obama sought to defend herself on the "The View" television talk show on Wednesday saying: "Of course I love my country ... And nowhere but in America could my story be possible."
She has found some unexpected support from First Lady Laura Bush.
"I think she probably meant I'm 'more proud,' you know, is what she really meant," Bush told ABC television earlier this month.
"You have to be very careful in what you say. I mean, I know that, and that's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president and for being the spouse of the president, and that is, everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued," Bush said.
But Cindy McCain appears not to be in the mood to give her rival the benefit of the doubt, as she also sought to press her husband's campaign to woo over women voters.
"Supporting our troops the way he does, supporting our young men and women right now who are serving so gallantly is pro-woman, because every mother, every wife, sister, aunt feels the way I have felt," she said.
"The things that he does doesn't make him any more pro-woman, pro-man, anti-anything. He is about America, making America strong."
The couple's youngest son has served in Iraq.
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