OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

SHARP WORDS OVER MILITARY SERVICE

Republican John McCain launched a harsh attack on Democrat Barack Obama's lack of military credentials Thursday, charging that the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination has "zero understanding" of veterans' issues.

Obama responded in kind, accusing McCain of engaging "endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts" that "do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people."

The angry exchange -- a preview of what will surely be a hotly debated point of difference if, as expected, they are their parties' nominees for the presidency -- came as the fellow senators disagreed over an educational provision in a GI bill, which is up for a vote.

McCain said Obama had no right to criticize McCain's position on military scholarships because the Illinois senator did not serve in uniform. McCain lashed out at Obama's personal history despite Obama's repeated praise of McCain's military service.

McCain was a Navy fighter pilot who spent nearly six years as a Vietnam prisoner of war. At age 46, Obama is too young to have been drafted or fought in Vietnam.

MEDICAL RECORDS TO BE RELEASED TODAY

The McCain campaign today will release summaries of the senator's medical records in an effort to calm whatever public concern there is that the 71-year-old candidate might not be healthy enough to take on the high-stress job of president.

His doctors will spend 90 minutes answering questions from reporters during a conference call, and a small pool of reporters in Phoenix will be allowed to examine the documents firsthand.

NEWS SERVICES