Barack Obama on Friday accused George W. Bush and John McCain of trying to fool the US electorate by comparing advocates of talks with America’s adversaries to the “appeasers” of Nazi Germany.

Denying that he had ever recommended talks with Hamas, the extremist Palestinian group, Mr Obama pointed out that Mr McCain had in an interview two years ago called for such talks. He also pointed out that Bob Gates, the US defence secretary, had advocated talks with Iran.