McCain mum on Budweiser sale

ST. LOUIS, July 24 (UPI) -- Political observers say they wonder if Republican John McCain would continue his tradition of not taking positions on alcohol issues if he is elected president.

The St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that for about 20 years McCain has sidestepped alcohol issues since his wife Cindy McCain owns Hensley and Co., a large Anheuser-Busch distributorship in Arizona.

The Arizona senator's campaign has not said whether Cindy McCain would separate herself from Hensley if her husband were elected.

"The McCains would, like they always have, ensure that they are abiding by all ethical rules," said Wendy Riemann, a campaign spokeswoman.

She added that McCain "has a history of consistently voting 'present' on any legislation dealing with the beer industry."

The McCain camp has also remained mum on InBev's pending purchase of Anheuser-Busch Cos.

The newspaper reported that from the sale Cindy McCain stands to make at least $800,000 on the stock she owns.

"A spouse's dealings are always a complication for a candidate, and in this case a significant one," said William Galston of the Brookings Institution, an expert in campaigns.

"This is a major financial holding that his wife has that turns out somewhat unexpectedly to have public policy implications," Galston added.