McCain says he voted for Bush

Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000.

In a report, Huffington insisted she heard McCain say, at a Los Angeles dinner party after the 2000 election, he had not voted for Bush.

Two other guests at the party, former "West Wing" actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, said they heard McCain say the same thing; they were asked by Huffington to speak Thursday to The New York Times and The Washington Post.

McCain's campaign said Thursday she was making up the story to promote a book, and McCain disputed the story.

"I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush's election in 2000 and 2004," McCain told reporters. "I voted for President Bush, I said so at the time. I know we're already in silly season, but my record stands very clearly of campaigning all over this nation on behalf of the candidacy of President Bush.

"It's nonsense," he said.

McCain, now the likely GOP nominee, lost a bitter presidential primary race in 2000 to Bush.

Later Friday in South Carolina, McCain refused to answer a question about whether he would choose the state's governor, Republican Mark Sanford, as a vice presidential running mate.

McCain chuckled at a news conference in Columbia, where he was flanked by Sanford's wife, Jenny, and other state leaders. Sanford did not attend.

"We're talking not at all about this process," McCain said. "I think Governor Sanford is a very important person that we all admire and respect, but we're not mentioning anybody's names as we go through this process, thank you."

However, McCain did say he would consider someone who didn't support him in the GOP presidential primary. That is true of Sanford, who did not endorse a candidate.

"Oh sure, I think the first priority is someone who shares your philosophy, your priorities and your principles, and also your priorities, absolutely," McCain said.

McCain also responded Friday to a report published in The Washington Post that he supported a land deal in Arizona that benefited a campaign contributor.

"I worked for a long period of time with mayors, with environmental groups, with other interested individuals for a long period of time, including having town hall meetings," McCain said. "I'm very proud of my record, very proud of the work we did in that land exchange, and I'm proud of my environmental record."

McCain held a fundraiser Friday afternoon in Columbia, then planned to fly to Houston for a fundraiser Saturday morning.

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