SAN ANTONIO -- Following a town hall meeting with employees of USAA, presidential candidate Sen. John McCain received a local religious leader's endorsement Wednesday.

At an afternoon press conference, Pastor John Hagee of Cornerstone Church said he was endorsing the Republican front-runner because of his stance on Israel as well as his pro-life ideals.

Hagee also sided with the Arizona senator because of his fight against congressional overspending and his pledge to appoint conservative judges if elected president.

At the same conference, McCain took Democratic front-runner Barack Obama to task for his thoughts on the war in Iraq.

"Sen. Obama reiterated his position that he wants to set a date for immediate withdrawal from Iraq," McCain said. "I believe that would be a most dangerous course of action."

After his two stops in the Alamo City, McCain departed for Houston.