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US President Barack Obama and his former Republican foe John McCain turned back the clock to their testy 2008 election campaign Thursday, in a vintage clash at a high-stakes health care summit.
McCain intervened in the day-long event to accuse Obama of ignoring what polls suggest is overwhelming public opposition to his ambitious plans to reform the US health care system and of playing typical political games.
"People are angry... we promised them change in Washington," Senator McCain said at the meeting on Obama's stalled top domestic priority at the Blair House presidential guest house in Washington.
When Obama attempted to cut McCain off, the Republican snapped back "Can I finish please?" without using the usual honorific "Mr President."
Obama heard McCain out, but for once in the long meeting, appeared irritated, quickly turning the pages in a briefing book in his desk as he listened.
"Look, let me just make this point John, because we are not campaigning anymore," Obama said, having had time to compose his rebuttal jab.
"We can spend the remainder of our time with our respective talking points going back and forwards -- we are supposed to be talking about insurance."
The exchange was reminiscent of the three presidential debates in the 2008 election cycle, when McCain at several times appeared irritated by his opponent, and drew dismissive responses from the Democratic candidate.
Thursday's showdown came at a bipartisan health care reform summit called by Obama to rescue his stalled reform plan, which was also seen as an attempt to rescue his slowed presidency.
