McCain draws Democratic scorn over new ad

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful John McCain drew scorn from leading Democrats on Thursday for an advertisement that cites their favourable comments about him in a bid to attract independent voters.

At the same time, the McCain campaign said it was reviewing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations gathered by a prominent Florida businessman and said some might have to be returned if deemed inappropriate.

In an election year in which independent voters likely will hold the key to victory on November 4, McCain is promoting himself as a political maverick willing to buck his party and take principled stands, a way for him to demonstrate independence from unpopular President George W. Bush.

"I don't work for a party," McCain said in Ohio. "I don't work for a president. I don't work for a special interest and I don't work for myself. I work for you and the country we love."

In a Web ad, key Democrats are shown extolling the virtues of McCain over the years, including former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"I have enormous respect for him. He's a courageous, patriotic American who stands up for what he believes," Kerry says in the ad, a comment he made in 2004 during his own White House run.

Kerry, beaten by Bush in 2004, was particularly miffed by the McCain ad. He had considered McCain as a potential vice presidential running mate in 2004.

"The John McCain of today is unrecognizable from the John McCain of just a couple years ago," said Kerry, citing McCain's support for extending Bush tax cuts, among other issues.  Continued...