"If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has defended his leader and dismissed Senator Obama's comments.



"That would be half of our army. Australia is a much smaller country than the United States and so he might like to weigh that up," Mr Downer told ABC Radio.



"It's entirely appropriate the Australian Government expresses its view in a free world. You won't get anywhere trying to close down debate."



Mr Downer, in Turkey for meetings with the secular Islamic democracy on security, repeated his Government's belief that a US withdrawal from Iraq would mean victory for al-Qaeda.



"A precipitous withdrawal by the United States from Iraq would be a catastrophe," he said.



However, both Republicans and Democrats have attacked Mr Howard's foray into their domestic affairs.



Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Convention, criticised Mr Howard's strong links to Mr Bush.



"The Prime Minister has been a great friend of George Bush; he has been with him lock-step from day one on this war in Iraq," Mr McAuliffe said.



"He and George Bush, they can go off and talk to each other, we don't care what he says."



Democrat senator Ron Wyden said it was hard to be polite about Mr Howard.



"The most charitable thing you can say about Mr Howard's comment is bizarre," Senator Wyden said.



"We'll make our own judgements in this country with respect to elections and Barack Obama is a terrific public servant."



Even Republicans have criticised Mr Howard for interfering in US domestic affairs.



"I would prefer that Mr Howard stay out of our domestic politics and we will stay out of his domestic politics," Texas Republican senator John Cornyn said.



However, Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter has defended Mr Howard.



"I think the Aussies have earned a right to comment on the world stage about their partner in this endeavour because they've been fighting side-by-side with us in Iraq," Congressman Hunter said.



Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd yesterday demanded Mr Howard withdraw his statements.



"Mr Howard must not allow his personal relationship with President Bush to impact on Australia's long-term alliance relationship with the United States," Mr Rudd said



"I disagreed with the coalition's decision to invade Iraq ... But I have seen it as my role to discuss the future of Australian foreign policy on Iraq, not lecture United States citizens on how they should vote in the upcoming presidential election."