McCain opposes California campaign finance measure

SAN FRANCISCO - Sen. John McCain, who built his White House bid around campaign finance reform, opposes a California campaign finance measure on the November ballot and misspoke when he said he backed it, an aide said.

The measure is less restrictive than an earlier one McCain supported and would create the kind of ''soft money'' system in California that the Arizona senator is fighting at the federal level.

McCain said in response to a reporter's question Sept. 16 that he favored Proposition 34, which would place caps on California's now virtually unlimited political donations. Individuals, corporations and special-interest groups can donate any sum to candidates and campaigns.

''I think any reform is better than the present system,'' McCain said at the time. ''It's clearly badly in need of repair, and I wouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.''

McCain said he would ''do everything I can to see that this initiative is passed.''

On Wednesday, an aide to McCain said he had misspoken, believing the question referred to a stricter proposition on California's March ballot, which he supported.

Last winter McCain endorsed that measure, Proposition 25. Voters rejected it nearly 2-1 in the March primary.

Proposition 25 was far more stringent than this fall's initiative.

It would have limited individual donations to $5,000 for statewide candidates, and outlawed corporate contributions. And it proposed using taxpayer money to finance some advertising for campaigns agreeing to voluntary spending limits.

The measure on the November ballot would cap most donations at $20,000 for governor and $5,000 for other statewide candidates.

Political parties could give unlimited sums to campaigns, though they could collect no more than $25,000 a year from any one donor to support or oppose candidates.

But a donor could give limitless sums of money to a party if the cash is not meant for a specific campaign. That is akin to unlimited, largely unregulated ''soft money'' donations that has flooded this year's presidential and congressional campaigns.

Todd Harris, a McCain spokesman, said the Arizona senator was not likely to actively campaign against Proposition 34. He would air his opinion if asked, Harris said.

McCain's comments Wednesday were meant to clarify his comments last month, Harris said.

''Senator McCain is one of the nation's strongest critics of soft money abuses in American politics,'' Harris said. ''He does not feel that this measure comes close to addressing the problem or providing a solution.''

Donna Lucas, a campaign consultant working for Proposition 34, did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The proposition was sponsored by the Legislature's leaders, Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg and Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, both Democrats, and placed on the ballot by the Legislature.

Tony Miller, who is leading the campaign against Proposition 34, said he was grateful for McCain's support.

''Proposition 34 stands for everything that he's been standing against - it would indeed flood California with soft money,'' Miller said.

''His opinion alone is worth a great deal to us, to have him standing with us is very significant,'' Miller said.

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On the Net:

Read Proposition 34 at http://www.ss.ca.gov