The December 27 assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto drew responses from all of the major candidates . McCain , a longtime member of the Senate Armed Services Committee , called attention to his foreign policy experience , as well as his personal interaction with Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf . He also drew a contrast with his main Republican rivals , who did not have experience in foreign policy matters . Many observers saw McCain as the candidate most likely to benefit from a heightened focus on international events
assassination
Assassination of Benazir Bhutto
John McCain 2008 presidential campaign