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McCain asks donors not to contribute to shadow group |
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By Sam Youngman
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Posted: 11/12/07 11:36 AM [ET] |
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Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday asked his donors not to contribute any money to a group in South Carolina said to be running ads on his behalf. In a letter to donors, McCain’s campaign manager Rick Davis said the Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America, a 527 group apparently made up of McCain supporters, has been running ads without his approval. Davis asked donors to contribute directly to the campaign and not any independent groups. “This group is in no way connected to John McCain 2008, and the campaign has had nothing to do with them,” Davis wrote. “Consistent with his long-held belief and efforts to promote transparency in the elections process, John McCain has condemned this anonymous group’s efforts and asked that they stop airing the advertisement.” According to reports, the man behind the ads is Rick Reed, the co-producer of the Swift Boat ads of 2004, which McCain decried at the time. “I ask all of my donors and supporters, including Mr. Reed, to cease and desist immediately from supporting any independent expenditures that might be construed as benefiting my campaign indirectly,” McCain said in a statement. “If you respect me or my principles, I urge you to refrain from using my name and image in any ads or other activities. I will not win this election, nor would I want to win it, by acquiescing in anyone’s attempt to put my campaign before my principles.” Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s (R) campaign hit McCain hard Friday night over the ads, accusing the champion of campaign finance reform of hypocrisy. |
