McCain: Reports on lobbyist a 'smear' [View All]

[onehandle]

Source: AP

TOLEDO, Ohio - Sen. John McCain, responding to published reports about his relationship with a lobbyist, says he "will not allow a smear campaign" to distract from his presidential campaign.

The New York Times quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged her to stay away from McCain.

Weaver told the Times he arranged the meeting after "a discussion among the campaign leadership" about Iseman.

Aides said McCain, now on the verge of securing the Republican nomination, would address the allegations at a news conference Thursday morning.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lobbyist