McCain Lists Islamic Extremism as Greatest Threat to U.S. Economy

In a recent interview with Fortune Magazine, John McCain listed Islamic extremism as the greatest threat to the U.S. economy.

When asked about the "gravest long-term threat to the U.S. economy" by Fortune Editor at Large David Whitford, McCain replied, "Well, I would think that the absolute gravest threat is the struggle that we're in against radical Islamic extremism, which can affect, if they prevail, our very existence. Another successful attack on the United States of America could have devastating consequences."

The Fortune piece suggests McCain tries to tie national security to issues more prominent in voters' minds -- like the economy and the war in Iraq -- because those issues are problematic for him.

"When the topic is economics, the same fire isn't there--at least not yet," Whitford writes in the piece.

-Beth Sussman