Strategist says McCain skipped Wright ad

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., refused to use a presidential campaign advertisement about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, one of his electoral strategists says.

McCain had the opportunity to use the 30-second advertisement to attack his electoral rival, Barack Obama, the president-elect, but strategist Steve Schmidt says the Republican presidential nominee would not authorize its release, ABC reported Monday.

"McCain never saw the ad and it was never considered for air, period," Schmidt said.

The advertisement was produced by Republican media strategist Fred Davis and offered sharp criticisms of Obama's link to the controversial religious figure.

Davis said he believes the ad could have helped McCain when the Republican senator was struggling with electoral support.

"The contrast of characters (of McCain and Obama) could have been an important part of the campaign if raised early on," Davis told ABC News.

ABC said many top Republican officials, including Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee, urged McCain to use Wright as an electoral issue.