McCain criticizes Putin for leading "puppet show"

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain accused President Vladimir Putin of preparing to lead a puppet government in Russia in a blistering critique on Friday.

The Arizona senator, long critical of Putin, had harsh words for the Russian leader as he prepares to give up the presidency to a hand-picked successor and then take on a powerful role as prime minister.

"I think that Mr. Putin is trying to restore the old Russian empire. Obviously he is perpetuating himself in power in Russia virtually indefinitely by this setup of having basically a protege, someone who is doing his bidding as president while he serves as the prime minister," McCain said.

"We knew the puppet show was going on, we just didn't know who the puppet was."

McCain, who was asked about the state of affairs in Russia during a town-hall meeting, is seeking the Republican Party's nomination to face the Democrats' choice in November's election to succeed President George W. Bush.

McCain, who often says that when he looked into Putin's eyes he saw a K, G and B, added he was concerned about Russia but not worried about a resurgent Russian empire.

"I'm not concerned that we will see a reignition of the old Cold War. Russia doesn't have the assets or the capability or anything else to pose the kind of challenge" that it did during the days of the Soviet Union, he said.

McCain said Russia was blocking U.S. efforts to contain Iran and help in the Darfur region of Sudan.

(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by John O'Callaghan)