McCain, Obama attack advisers

WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Barack Obama and John McCain, the almost certain U.S. presidential nominees of their respective parties, are debating whose advisers are shadier, CNN reported.

Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, lost one member of his vice presidential vetting team this week. Republican McCain then attacked another one, CNN said.

McCain said Thursday that Eric Holder is unsuitable because, as a deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration, he approved the pardon of financier Marc Rich. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday the attacks have gotten "a little bit out of control."

Gibbs described Holder as "an honorable man." Then he went after Arthur Culvahouse, a McCain vetter who has lobbied for Enron and Exxon.

"Not to get into guilt by association or things like that, but let's look at who John McCain has vetting his vice presidential prospects," Gibbs said. "He's a former lobbyist and the head of the legal team in the Reagan White House during the Iran-Contra hearings."