McCain calls Times story on lobbyist untrue

By Jason Szep

TOLEDO, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican presidential front-runner John McCain on Thursday dismissed as untrue a New York Times report suggesting he had a close and possibly romantic relationship with a female lobbyist nine years ago, a potentially embarrassing conflict of interest.

"Obviously I'm very disappointed in the article. It's not true," the four-term Arizona senator told a news conference with his wife, Cindy, by his side.

"At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interest and would favor any one or any organization," said McCain, who has promoted higher ethics among lawmakers since a brush with scandal 20 years ago.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that McCain, 71, had a close relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, saying that early in McCain's failed bid for the 2000 presidential election, members of his campaign had grown concerned the relationship might harm the campaign.

"Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself -- instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity," the Times reported.

At his news conference, McCain described Iseman as a "friend" whom he has seen on various occasions in Washington including fund-raisers and receptions and denied any romantic or improper involvement with her.

"I have many friends in Washington that represent various interests," he said. He last saw her several months ago at "some event," he added.

He said he knew nothing of confrontations between himself and aides whom the Times said had urged him to stay away from Iseman out of fear that she could damage his political future.