McCain linked to special interests?

WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Ties to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and the telecommunications industry conflict with denials on "special interests," USA Today said.

McCain, R-Ariz., sits on a Senate oversight committee for the telecommunications industry, yet 23 of 66 former and current lobbyists raising campaign funds for him are associated with the same industry, the newspaper said. Eighteen of those 23 are listed major fundraisers, USA Today said.

Industry moguls praised McCain's work on the Senate Commerce Committee, which eliminated taxes on regulations on the telecommunications sector during his tenure.

McCain's campaign manager, finance chief, his deputy manager, his top political adviser and his Senate chief of staff are all people who have lobbied for the telecommunications sector in the past, the newspaper said.

Those five received more than $4.4 million from telecommunications companies since 1999.

McCain's spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, told USA Today the senator "does not do favors for special interests of lobbyists. Period."