Rumsfeld mum on whether he'll back McCain

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in a bit of tit-for-tat, so far won't say whether he'd support Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president.

McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, has been one of Rumsfeld's harshest critics, once saying the defense chief would "go down as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history."

Rumsfeld told The Hill he hasn't followed the presidential campaign, focusing instead on work for his foundation.

"I have not been involved at all," Rumsfeld told the Washington publication when asked whether his inattention to the presidential election meant he wasn't supporting McCain.

"He has focused his energy on the Rumsfeld Foundation," said aide Keith Urbahn, explaining the foundation, among other things, encourages young people to participate in public service.

Federal Election Commission records indicate Rumsfeld and his wife, Joyce, contributed about $80,000 to GOP candidates in the 2008 election cycle.

Some of McCain's Senate colleagues said they think Rumsfeld will back the party's standard-bearer eventually.

"He will be for him in due time," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told The Hill, because "he cares about the country's national security."

McCain has criticized Rumsfeld over the Iraq war and military detainee policies.