Democrats: McCain Violated McCain-Feingold

Democrats are accusing John McCain of violating the campaign finance law he championed based on some new ads in which he supports GOP congressional candidates Ruth McClung and Jesse Kelly. This, says the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission, represents an “in kind” donation that exceeds McCain-Feingold’s non-cash donation limit. They also claim it breaks the law’s rule limiting campaign committees to supporting a single candidate, the Washington Post reports.

But the McCain campaign rejected the accusations, saying it reported the ads as “independent expenditures,” rather than contributions. “It’s not surprising that Democrats would try to change the subject from their struggling ticket with a baseless, frivolous complaint,” said a McCain spokesman. The allegations do seem a bit like small potatoes given the insane cash flying freely this cycle. Then again, this wouldn't be the first time McCain has skirted his most famous legislative accomplishment. (More campaign finance stories.)