Richardson: McCain coordinating 527 attack

WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- John McCain is behind an attack on his presumptive U.S. presidential rival, Barack Obama, by 527 groups, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson alleges.

Richardson, a one-time candidate for the Democratic nomination who backs the Illinois senator for president, alleged Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation" that the presumptive Republican presidential candidate has coordinated an attack on his likely general election opponent with various tax-exempt organizations.

In addition, Richardson accused the Republican senator from Arizona of funding his campaign with money from political action committees and lobbyists.

"He's still taking lobbyist money. He's taking PAC money," Richardson said of McCain.

"But also he's encouraging these 527 groups to go after Senator Obama and basically wink at them and say, 'Look, go after his record. I'm not going to do it. I'm going to be the good guy.'"

Yet Republican National Committee Victory 2008 head Carly Fiorina denied those allegations, saying McCain is actually being targeted by some 527 groups.

"The facts are completely different than Governor Richardson is describing them. In fact, John McCain is on the record as having asked a couple of 527s to stand down," she said on the CBS news program.