Republican presidential front-runner John McCain yesterday dismissed as "untrue" a New York Times report suggesting he had close ties to a female lobbyist nine years ago in a potential conflict with his ethical stances.

"Obviously I'm very disappointed in the article. It's not true," the four-term Arizona senator told a news conference. "At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interest and would favor any one or any organization."

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that McCain had a close relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, saying that early in McCain's failed bid for the 2000 presidential election, members of his campaign had grown concerned the relationship might harm the campaign.

He described Iseman as a "friend" whom he has seen on "various occasions" in Washington including fund-raisers. "I have many friends in Washington that represent various interests," he said. "I consider her a friend."

According to the Times article, "Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself - instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity."

The Times cited instances where it said McCain had appeared to undermine his own demands for high ethical behavior from members of Congress. The Washington Post quoted a veteran McCain aide John Weaver, who no longer works for the campaign, as saying he had urged Iseman to stay away from McCain.

McCain, a Vietnam war hero, has long promoted high ethical standards among lawmakers and has written legislation to limit the influence of money in politics.

The senator said he will not allow the report to distract him from his presidential campaign.

"I will focus my attention in this campaign on the big issues and on the challenges that face this country," he said.

His wife also took issue with the newspaper, and said she trusts her husband.

"He's a man of great character," Mrs. McCain said.

McCain is the all-but-certain Republican nominee to face Democrats on the November 4 presidential election to succeed President George W. Bush.

At 71, he would be the oldest person to ever win a first presidential term.

Since The New York Times story was published Wednesday night, the McCain campaign has sought to discredit it, distributing lengthy statements and deploying senior advisers to appear on news shows.

The campaign calls the story a smear campaign to destroy the Republican nominee-in-waiting.

Agencies

(China Daily 02/22/2008 page12)