McCain attacks Republican attack ad

WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- John McCain criticized North Carolina Republicans in a Friday TV appearance for an attack ad that links Barack Obama to his former pastor.

McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, appeared on the NBC "Today" show, The Los Angeles Times reported. He said the North Carolina party is "out of touch with reality."

"We are the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, and this kind of campaigning is unacceptable," the Arizona senator said. "It will harm the Republicans' cause."

The commercial, which the party plans to air early next week, includes video clips of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The ad calls Obama "too extreme for North Carolina."

Linda Daves, the party chairwoman, said that the commercial would not hurt McCain. She said it was designed to remind voters that both Democratic candidates for governor have endorsed Obama.

Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, released a statement suggesting McCain is trying to have it both ways by criticizing the ad while getting the benefit of a negative attack.