Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican rival John McCain tried to smear him and was "losing his bearings" with the suggestion that Hamas preferred Obama for president.

"This is offensive and I think it's disappointing, because John McCain always says, well, I'm not going to run that kind of politics and that engages in that kind of smear I think is unfortunate, particularly since my policy toward Hamas has been no different than his," Obama said in an interview with CNN Thursday.

The Illinois senator added: "For him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination. We don't need name-calling in this debate."

McCain made his comment about the Palestinian organization that the United States has labeled a terrorist group during a conference call with conservative bloggers last month.

"I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president," the GOP nominee-in-waiting said. "If Senator Obama is favored by Hamas, I think people can make judgments accordingly."