WASHINGTON -- John McCain says he doesn't find anything hypocritical about his campaign finance reform message and the contributions he has accepted from lobbyists, including those representing clients with interests before the Senate committee he chairs.
"We want to get money from everybody in America, and if someone who has a special interest wants to give to my campaign and they're interested in reform, that's fine," the Arizona senator and Republican presidential hopeful said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "The message is clear -- there's going to be a change in Washington."McCain has been barnstorming the country on a promise to break the grip of special interests. Rival George W. Bush has accused him of engaging in "Washington double talk" for attacking special interests while also courting their support.
Meanwhile, Bush planned to sharpen his message against McCain beginning Monday with a speech in Delaware that aides say will draw distinctions between the reforms Bush has achieved as governor of Texas and the lack of progress made by politicians in Washington, specifically McCain.
Bush plans to touch on a range of issues -- including education -- to make the case against Washington-style politics and McCain.
He also plans to unveil a new ad this week accusing McCain of breaking his promise to run a campaign free of attacks. The senator, who made the pledge in a Michigan debate last month, has since raised questions about the Texas governor's Social Security plan and, in a more subtle fashion, his qualifications for the presidency.
McCain, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, recently came under fire for writing letters on behalf of powerful interests and accepting contributions from donors who often have business before his panel.
Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, stopped short of calling McCain a hypocrite.
"Senator McCain sees himself and portrays himself as an advocate of campaign finance reform, as somebody who is cleaner than anyone else around the table, and yet he has accepted contributions and sought contributions from people with legislation pending before his committee," Rove said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
But McCain defended his acceptance of contributions from such donors. "I welcome the support of anyone in the form of $1,000 contributions, but they know clearly well where I stand, they know clearly I want to break the iron triangle" of big money, lobbyists and legislation, he said.