IN THE HEADLINES

McCain and Obama agree Iran must be pressured anew yet split over role of diplomacy ... Obama, Clinton head to New York with vice presidential vetter ... McCain says Social Security funding is a disgrace that must be fixed, but offers no remedies ... Union ad says McCain stance on war in Iraq keeps money away from jobs at home ... Germany chancellor uneasy over possible Brandenburg Gate address by Obama ... Obama expresses regret over TV interview of his children

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McCain and Obama call for new pressure on Iran

SOUTH PARK, Pa. (AP) _ The two main presidential candidates agreed Wednesday that Iran's missile tests call for renewed pressure on that country, but Democrat Barack Obama stressed direct diplomacy while Republican John McCain focused on tougher sanctions against Tehran.

Obama called for a continued package of carrot-and-stick incentives to dissuade the Iranians from pursuing nuclear weapons while putting more emphasis on diplomatic talks.

"At this point, the report is unclear, it's still early," Obama said on "The Early Show" on CBS. "What this underscores is the need for ... a clear policy that is putting the burden on Iran to change behavior. And frankly, we just have not been able to do that the last several years, partly because we're not engaged in direct diplomacy."

McCain, speaking to reporters in South Park, Pa., said "lines of communications" with Iran should continue. However, he pushed for sanctions against the Iranians that could affect "their very aggressive behavior, not only rhetorically, but in their pursuit of nuclear weapons as well as this latest missile test."

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Obama, Clinton head to NY with veep vetter

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Democrat Barack Obama and his former rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, headed to New York on Wednesday along with his vice presidential searcher Caroline Kennedy.

Clinton, mentioned as a possible running mate, and Obama were to appear together at two fundraisers there Wednesday night.

Aides are tight-lipped about why the three were traveling together other than to cite the fundraisers. Kennedy is to introduce Obama at the first; Clinton will introduce him at the second.

Obama was already onboard his campaign plane when Clinton arrived. They greeted each other, stood in the aisle chatting for several minutes.

Earlier Wednesday, Clinton deflected a reporter's inquiry about whether she has turned over documents for her former rival's campaign to review as part of the vice presidential search.

Obama made an unannounced stop Wednesday morning at a downtown building that houses the law firm of another member of his vice presidential search team, Eric Holder, but he wouldn't say why afterward.

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McCain: Social Security funding now 'a disgrace'

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) _ The system for funding Social Security is "a disgrace" because it forces young workers to pay into a program that is unlikely to benefit them in its current form, Republican John McCain said this week, wading into politically touchy territory.

Like many other politicians, McCain often questions the long-term viability of the government retirement program. But he raised eyebrows with an unusually harsh assessment Monday at a town-hall forum in Denver.

Asked by a young woman if she is likely to receive Social Security benefits someday, McCain said it was unlikely "unless we fix it."

"Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today," he said. "And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace, and it's got to be fixed."

Some Democrats criticized the remarks because McCain basically was describing how Social Security has always worked. Current retiree benefits are supplied by payroll taxes from current workers.

In a conference call organized by the Democratic Party, Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Social Security has "always been pay as you go, with today's workers paying for today's retirees. What's a disgrace is that this is news to John McCain."

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AFL-CIO ad criticizes McCain on war, veterans

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The AFL-CIO plans to begin airing an ad in six presidential battleground states on Thursday that features a Vietnam combat veteran criticizing John McCain's stance on the war in Iraq and on veterans issues.

The ad is part of a new union political effort to reach the 2.1 million military veterans or active-duty personnel who are members of the AFL-CIO.

"Every vet respects John McCain's war record," Navy veteran Jim Wasser says in the ad. "It's his record in the Senate that I have a problem with."

Wasser, an electrician from Illinois, served with John Kerry aboard Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam and helped the Massachusetts senator rebut attacks on his war record during the 2004 presidential campaign.

In the ad, Wasser says McCain "wants us to keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. Just like Bush."

"That's money we could use to build schools and roads and create needed jobs here at home," Wasser says. "He even took sides with Bush against increasing health care benefits for veterans. People should let John McCain know. His agenda is not what we need. Not now."

While McCain has supported increases in spending for veteran's health, the union's criticism is based on McCain's opposition over the past four years to Democratic amendments that would have added more money to veteran's health programs.

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Merkel uneasy over Obama Brandenburg Gate address

BERLIN (AP) _ German Chancellor Angela Merkel has signaled unease over the prospect of a possible speech by Democrat Barack Obama at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Merkel has "only limited understanding for using the Brandenburg Gate as an election campaign backdrop, as it were, and has expressed skepticism about pursuing such plans," Thomas Steg, a spokesman for the chancellor, told reporters. Continued...