AP ignored McCain campaign flip-flop on public funding “in recent days”

Written by Andrew Seifter

Published

The Associated Press reported that advisers to Sen. John McCain “have said in recent days that he would abide by his proposal” to use public campaign financing if Sen. Barack Obama also agrees to do so. But the AP did not mention that according to The New York Times, days before affirming that “he would abide by his proposal,” McCain advisers had said that he would not abide by his proposal and would opt not to use public funds.

In a February 14 article about whether Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (IL) will accept public campaign financing should he face off with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the general election, the Associated Press reported that “McCain advisers have said in recent days that he would abide by his proposal” to use public funds if Obama also agrees to do so. But the AP did not mention that according to The New York Times, days before affirming that “he would abide by his proposal,” McCain advisers had said that he would not do so and would opt not to use public funds.

McCain said on March 1, 2007, that if he became the Republican nominee, he would accept public funds, provided the Democratic nominee did as well. However, according to a February 13 New York Times report, “Mr. McCain's advisers said that the candidate, despite his signature legislative efforts to restrict the money spent on political campaigns, would not accept public financing and spending limits for this year's general campaign.”

In a February 15 article noting that the “McCain campaign's latest stand on the issue” is that it will, in fact, accept public funding if McCain's Democratic opponent does the same, the Times similarly reported: “On Tuesday, one of Mr. McCain's advisers told The New York Times that the campaign had decided to forgo public financing in the general election, an awkward admission for a senator who has made campaign finance reform a central part of his political persona.” The article noted that "[u]nder public-financing rules, the nominees are restricted to spending about $85 million each for the two-month general election campaign."

From the February 14 Associated Press article:

The issue resurfaced this month when McCain emerged as the likely Republican nominee and as Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton jostled for the lead in the Democratic contest.

McCain advisers have said in recent days that he would abide by his proposal.

But on Thursday, [Obama spokesman Bill] Burton said any speculation about what Obama will do is premature.