Sen. McCain on lobbyist report: 'It's not true'

— -- John McCain on Thursday criticized a New York Times story alleging a questionable relationship with a female telecommunications lobbyist, saying it's "not true" and that he was "very disappointed" the newspaper relied on anonymous sources.

"I'm proud of my record of service to this country," McCain said in a news conference in Toledo, Ohio, where he was campaigning in advance of March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas.

McCain said he did not know that aides had told lobbyist Vicki Iseman to stay away from him during his first run for the presidency in 2000, as reported in the Times.

He said no lobbyist ever influenced his decisions as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

"I have many friends who represent various interests," McCain said.

McCain also said he never met with Iseman, 40, or had a romantic relationship with her.

He said the two were "friends" and that he'd "seen her on occasions at receptions and fundraisers and appearances before the committee."

He said he last saw Iseman several months ago when he "ran into her at some event."

The Times reported that Iseman sent the newspaper an email saying she never received special treatment from McCain's office.

The newspaper reported on its website Wednesday night that John Weaver, a close confidant of McCain's who left his current campaign last year, met with Iseman at Union Station in Washington, D.C., eight years ago and urged her to stay away from him.

The story said Iseman was telling people she had special access to McCain as a lobbyist for the firm of Alcalde & Fay based in Arlington, Va., and that aides were worried about what effect that would have on McCain's presidential campaign.

McCain said Thursday he did not know anything about Weaver's conversation with Iseman.

"He's a friend of mine and remains a friend of mine," McCain said. "I've never discussed it with John Weaver...as far as i know there was no necessity for it."

McCain said he's had a couple of recent conversations with Weaver when "he called to congratulate me" on the current campaign.