“It’s not true…At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust,” Senator John McCain said Thursday. The likely Republican nominee is adamantly denying the New York Times report that he had an innappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist.
The newspaper is accusing McCain of being too close with telecommunication lobbyist Vicki Iseman. At the time of the alleged relationship McCain was serving on the Senate Commerce Committee which deals with
telecommunication firms.
The McCain camp calls Iseman “just a friend” and denies any claims there was a romantic relationship between the two or that she received and special treatment or consideration. The
Times based its report on comments made by McCain aides from his 2000 Presidential campaign.
Iseman is also denying receiving any special treatment. The McCain camp is calling the article an “attack” and part of a “smear campaign.”
Analysts predict that the negative article will actually rally support for McCain with Republican conservatives. Earlier this month McCain’s conservative credentials were called into question by party members.