McCain backer's pro-Obama ad pulled

CHICAGO, June 18 (UPI) -- A backer of Republican Sen. John McCain has succeeded in pulling an ad in which he praised McCain's likely Democratic presidential election opponent.

State Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, Ill., a prominent Republican Illinois state legislator, sent a letter to David Axelrod, a political strategist for Sen. Obama, D-Ill., asking that an ad he appeared in during the primary election season praising Obama's willingness to cross party lines no longer be used, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

The newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said Dillard made the request because he has been elected as a convention delegate for McCain, Obama's likely GOP opponent, and doesn't want his comments used for political advantage during the general election.

Axelrod responded to Dillard by agreeing to withhold the ad, the Tribune said.