Presumptive Republican nominee Senator John McCain says rival Barack Obama is naïve for seeking to hold talks with Iran's president.

"[Obama] wants to sit down and have negotiations and discussions with the person who just yesterday called Israel a quote 'stinking corpse'," Senator John McCain said Friday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday called Israel a 'stinking corpse' which is doomed to disappear. He added that '60 years of atrocity and oppression' have left the regime on an inescapable road to 'annihilation'.

Speaking at a news conference in New Jersey, Senator McCain charged the Democratic frontrunner with having the intentions of becoming friends with the Iranian government.

"That is a distinct difference between myself and Senator Obama,” continued the 71-year-old Republican.

McCain's comments came in response to Obama's claims that the Vietnam vet was 'losing his bearing' for calling the Democrat Hamas' favorite candidate in the 2008 presidential race.

“It's very obvious to everyone that Senator Obama shares nothing of the values or goals of Hamas, which is a terrorist organization,” McCain said, adding that, “But it's also fact that a spokesperson from Hamas said that he approves of Obama's candidacy. I think that's of interest to the American people.”

Since a key factor in winning the US presidential election is having the support of America's Jewish community, political pundits believe McCain and Obama's recent exchange of words signals that the candidates are prepared to go head-to-head in winning Israel's backing.

MD/HAR