LOUISVILLE, KY. - Courting his sometime critics within the gun lobby, John McCain told the National Rifle Association on Friday that Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton both would undermine the rights of gun owners.

"If either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is elected president, the rights of law-abiding gun owners will be at risk, my friends -- and have no doubt about it," the Republican nominee-in-waiting told a crowd of several thousand.

McCain acknowledged that he has been no darling of gun-rights advocates, having pushed through signature campaign finance legislation gun supporters say has muzzled free speech. The Arizona senator also has favored tighter restrictions for buying guns at gun shows.

Nonetheless, McCain said he expected the votes of gun owners in his general election campaign against either Obama or Clinton, the remaining Democratic presidential contenders.

Earlier, after visiting a gun store in St. Albans, W.Va., where he bought a rod, bobbers and other fishing equipment, McCain said the only gun controls he favors are limits to keep guns from people with criminal backgrounds or indications of mental problems.

OBAMA ON McCAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY: Obama laid into McCain on Friday for advancing a tough-guy foreign policy that he called "naive and irresponsible," serving notice that he's ready to begin a full-throttle challenge to the Republican presidential contender on international relations in the general election campaign.

Lumping McCain together with President Bush, Obama declared, "If they want a debate about protecting the United States of America, that's a debate I'm ready to win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for."

He blamed Bush for policies that enhance the strength of terrorist groups such as Hamas and "the fact that al-Qaida's leadership is stronger than ever because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan," among other failings.

McCain agreed, at least, that there were huge differences between himself and Obama on foreign policy and said that he would be happy to let the American people decide who was right.

"It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that's not the world we live in. And until Senator Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe," McCain said in his speech to the National Rifle Association.

CLINTON SOLDIERS ON: Clinton introduced three new ads Friday in the coming primary states of Oregon and Kentucky, including one that pokes fun at Washington pundits fixated on the presidential horse race.

Shrugging off rival Obama's formidable delegate lead, Clinton coupled the release of the ads with campaign appearances in several Oregon cities. Just outside Eugene, Ore., the New York senator chatted with a retired couple and several other local residents at a dining room table about the financial effect of rising fuel costs and food prices.

During her appearance, Clinton criticized President Bush for what she said was inaction during his trip to the Middle East this week.

"I think it's very important that we do something more dramatic than going to have tea with the Saudis," she said.

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