Yeah, that would have worked off the bat, but too late once she gets offended. People get personal about who they vote for, and she felt attacked.
Ideal script would go:
TENANT: Who are you voting for?
LL: McCain. He wants to end the war.
TENANT: Really. He said at a Town Hall the other day in Derry that he would keep our US troops in Iraq for 100 years.
LL: Well they would be protecting America there.
TENANT: They would be targets for warring tribes during a civil war. Iraq needs a stable government before the US can have bases there. We invaded their country, and most Iraqis don't want us there. Keeping US troops in Iraq will only draw out the war. We should leave as soon as possible. Have you heard of Ron Paul?