So I can't give you a comment a year before an election.
But I would draw your attention to the following exchange made by President George W. Bush on 3rd June 2004, in the lead up to an Australian Federal election:
QUESTION: Mr. Howard and yourself reaffirmed the commitment that Australia and the U.S. have to staying the course in Iraq. But you would be aware the alternative prime minister in Australia, Mark Latham, has promised to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq by Christmas -
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.
QUESTION:- if he wins the election. What signal -
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, yes -
QUESTION: What signal would that send to the Iraqi people and the other members of the coalition?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think that would be disastrous. It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that, we're pulling out. It would dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq. It would say that the Australian government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will. See, they want to kill innocent life because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak; that when times get tough we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom, and we'll leave.
Notice he wisely directs his answer at the policy, not the man. This is nothing like what Howard just did. Not to mention GWB was responding to a direct question. Howard served this crap up himself, didn't he?