February 26, 2008
Posted: 11:00 AM ET

(CNN)— The Democratic National Committee on Tuesday pressed its formal complaint with federal election officials contesting Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's effort to withdraw his intention to ask for public election funding.

“John McCain is posing as a reformer,” DNC Chairman Howard Dean told CNN’s John Roberts. “It turns out reform, as far as he's concerned, is good for everybody but him.”

The Democratic Party filed an official complaint against McCain Monday with the Federal Election Commission calling on them to investigate the Senators decision earlier this month to withdraw from the primary election’s public financing system.

According to FEC regulations, written exclusion is required before withdrawal from the matching funds program, but the McCain campaign argues they did not need written permission citing Dean’s 2003 Democratic campaign as an example.

In the statement released Tuesday the DNC highlights a significant difference between now and 2003 is not only Dean's prior permission from the FEC before withdrawing, but McCain’s use of the potential financing to get on the ballot free of charge in some states as a bank loan.

The McCain campaign flatly rejects that assertion.

The FEC responded to McCain's withdrawal letter by asking him to explain the terms of his private loan, but said the issue cannot be resolved until four vacancies on the commission are filled. Currently, the board that votes on these matters does not have a quorum.

McCain campaign attorney Trevor Potter, himself a former chairman of the FEC, filed a response Monday to the commission asserting there is no "security interest in any certification for matching funds."

Ultimately, withdrawing from public financing would allow the Republican presidential frontrunner to avoid spending limitations that would have hindered how much he could raise between now and National Convention in September. This, Dean says, has benefited McCain substantially.

Related: Watch Dean accuse McCain of skirting election laws

–CNN’s Emily Sherman, Paul Courson and Kate Boulduan

Filed under: Howard Dean • John McCain


DrFill   February 26th, 2008 12:52 pm ET

LOL
The DNC called him a poseur!
DrFill

Cat, Costa Mesa, CA   February 26th, 2008 12:56 pm ET

DNC, Focus on the contempt and volatile behavior taking place in your own party.

Matt   February 26th, 2008 12:57 pm ET

Howard Dean is a joke. He screwed up this campaign so much with the punishment of Michigan and Florida. He's condemning McCain for flip flopping on public financing when Obama has done the same thing. For the sake of the Democratic Party, I hope he is replaced as soon as possible after the election. He was only put in place to appease the activist voters who couldn't carry him to victory in the 2004 primaries.

Bob   February 26th, 2008 12:57 pm ET

If McCain weren't the presumptive nominee, he would have been totally horked by the last two weeks. As it is, the Republican party now has no alternative, so he can pretty much commit any crimes he wants and they'll have no choice but to back him anyway.

Chuck   February 26th, 2008 12:59 pm ET

Howard Dean is a total hypocrit. He did the same thing as McCain 4years ago when he ran for president. He has no credibility.

Johnson   February 26th, 2008 1:04 pm ET

I think the DNC is right about this issue. When you claim to take a lone based on getting public financing you are locking yourself towards taking public financing. Just because you are now able to raise money as you weren't able to do previously does not mean that you should not fulfill your previous commitment where you stated that you would take public financing. I would understand if he said he would take public financing and had not received a lone based on the fact that he would get public financing. However, that does not appear to be the case.

James in Oregon   February 26th, 2008 1:07 pm ET

It won't matter where McCain get's his money from , he is just a token Candadate. The Democrat party will clean the floor with the old boy.

Hillary   February 26th, 2008 1:10 pm ET

I could not believe it the clintons are blaming the media for their defeat.
Just unbelievable.

anon   February 26th, 2008 1:16 pm ET

And if anyone knows about illegal fund raising and shady campaign finances, it's the democrats!

bdc   February 26th, 2008 1:18 pm ET

everyone needs to follow the rules… if you let them slide you end up with everyone doing it… slippery slope… think about illegal immigration and consequent problems because there are just so many now… what if those laws had always been enforced? Wouldn't be an issue…

AJP Richardson, TX   February 26th, 2008 1:19 pm ET

Howard Dean may be a joke, but John McCain is a looser.

AJ   February 26th, 2008 1:21 pm ET

Why is no one looking into Obama's fundraising?

Tom Wittmann   February 26th, 2008 1:21 pm ET

As already stated, the fact that McCain has used the potential FEC
related funding as a stand by for other funding, is totally irrelevant
as long his campaign provides a substutive stand by.

IF FEC RULES SPECIFY THAT PRIOR PERMISSION IS REQUIRED BEFORE WITHDRAWING, THIS RULE WAS RENDED NIL BY THEIR
INACTION WHEN DEAN VIOLATED IT. AND THEREFORE, DEAN
SHALL BE AT LEAST ADMONISHED,

TOM

Dave, California   February 26th, 2008 1:22 pm ET

Apparently some americans are forgetting how the elections work in this counry by spreading, and even worse BELIEVING some o fhtis drivle that keeps going around!

Where is this notion coming from that republicans are "stuck" with McCain, or tha Nader is the "spoiler"? Last time I checked, my vote goes to whoever I chose it to! Or it can simply go to no one. Im not "stuck" with any candidate, nor would my candidate be a "spoiler" if I simply cast my vote for him!

It's funny beacause the people who say this tripe are typically democrats who believe their party will magically unite once a candidate is chosen. By the way things are looking now? Conservatives backing McCain will be a much easier task than getting Clintonintes to back Obama!

Either way, don't ever say my vote "doesn't matter" because I choose to give it to a candidate who might not win (whoever that candidate will be) because my vote is the only thing that matters to me! Talk about voter disenfranchisement!

Jack 8   February 26th, 2008 1:23 pm ET

Mc Cain will beat Oba

An Agnostic Democrat   February 26th, 2008 1:25 pm ET

Please, let's continue to dismantle the Straight Talk Express! John McCain has as many, if not more, masks as Hillary Clinton. He doesn't hide them as well, but the character and honesty question darkly looms …

AJ, IL   February 26th, 2008 1:28 pm ET

I have never seen so many attempts to break the rules early in the primary season. Hillary wants the delegates from Florida and Michigan seated, even though her campaign signed off on the DNC's penalty for Florida and Michigan. McCain wants to opt out of public financing in the primary season, even though he's used public financing as collateral to get a personal loan to bridge his campaign funding. Come DNC get the "Straight-Talk Express" to stick to his word.

Obama in 08!

Darth Vadik, CA   February 26th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

I hope they launch an investigation on McCain and have all of his "straight talking guy" crap is proven to be a bunch of hogwash.

He is corrupt, how do I know.

HE'S A REPUBLICAN.

Georgia   February 26th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Do as I say, not as I do? That McCain integrity stuff is slipping already.

Who ever thought that Howard Dean was a good choice for the head of DNC? But maybe he's well suited for this kind of thing…

Scott - El Paso, TX   February 26th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Bob, Johnson, and James, you guys are idiots. The least you could do is know the regulations and all the background info before spouting off.
Johnson, it is "LOAN", and James, it is "CANDIDATE". No wonder democrats don't want to make English our official language.

Concerned Voter   February 26th, 2008 1:37 pm ET

Maybe the DNC should focus on the mess the party is in and the state of the two candidates are in. Obama with his corruption and Hillary with her flawed campaign. Also, not having two states count in this primary is absurd. Look what happened the last time votes were not counted in Florida.

Texasboo   February 26th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

And McBush had the nerve to go after OBama in a press conference about his "pledge to not use public financing in the general election"? Who does McBush think he is telling someone about his word when he violated the rules by getting a loan and public financing. REALLY?

McBush, you deal with your own junky backyard before trying to tell someone about there, umkay? Besides, Obama never promised and it was a flipping QUESTIONAIRRE not a PLEDGE. Not legally binding.

tom   February 26th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Chuck, you're an idiot. Do your studying boy before you post such a lame comment. It is not the same at all. Dean's case was on the up and up. McCain's is not.

Dan   February 26th, 2008 1:46 pm ET

Wake up, James, or you're going to miss your school bus.

Americans are not socialists and (the majority) are smart enough to understand that can't to play nice with Islamic fascists that want us dead just so we score points with a corrupt anti-American UN.

We can not afford Billary or Obama and neither of them are qualified to be the next Commander-in-Chief.

Texasboo   February 26th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Meant "their's not there's.

Karen   February 26th, 2008 2:14 pm ET

Now we get the whole DNC whining? They should go get their own camp in order. What a bunch of morons.

H   February 26th, 2008 2:24 pm ET

THE DNC SHOULD GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER. THEY LET THE MEDIA TREAT BARAK OBAMA LIKE A KING AND HILLARY CLINTON LIKE NOTHING. TIME THEY SHOW RESPECT TO HILLARY. I WAS A DEMOCARTIC BUT WILL BECOME AN INDEPENDENT IF THIS NONSENSE DOES NOT STOP NOW. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE CREATED EQUAL. REMEMBER THAT STATEMENT. IT'S NOT HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gorbashov, Long Beach, Ca.   February 26th, 2008 2:25 pm ET

Grandpa Munster IS a poseur. He used matching funds as collaterol to get a loan now he wants to back out of the matching funds. He should not be allowed to have it both ways. However, I'm sure he will do what he wants as there no longer are any 'Law and Order' Republican candidates left on earth.

Matt - Do your research. Howard Dean has set out to stregthen all 50 State Democratic Partys and with a candidate - Obama - that can compete in purple and red states, the Deomcratic Party will compete in every state.

This election could be a landslide!

Obama/Edwards in 2008!

LeftyLoosey   February 26th, 2008 2:25 pm ET

The FCC had better listen up before Dean starts screaming at them..

Lisa in B-More   February 26th, 2008 2:26 pm ET

McCain is screwed and he knows it. He is out of money, his public financing money that is, and can not receive anymore until the the Convention. That is why he needs Huckabee to leave, so he can stop going to primary states, and just have fundraisers.

Go to the FEC website and check it out.

Patrick   February 26th, 2008 2:26 pm ET

Even Democrats can't take Howard Dean seriously the man did the EXACT same thing before. Does he believe people will just ignore this fact? The man has been a disgrace as a party chairman and needs to resign.

jp/michigan   February 26th, 2008 2:27 pm ET

Wake up, Howard Dean. You set rules your candidates don't even follow. NO! advertising in Florida by democratic candidates, but Obama spent 1.3 million dollars in Florida.

JohnQPublic   February 26th, 2008 2:33 pm ET

It looks like things are starting to catch up with "Honest John".

I see in other sources that Huckabee has challenged McCain to a debate.

Wonder if the war hero will wimp out? It won't do him much good if he does because it looks like Barack is right around the corner and he'll be forced into that one.

Too bad Republicans, looks like you've invested heavily in the wrong man.

andrew   February 26th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

go go GOP.4 more trillion$. spend like hell you'll get there.

Lloyd Hansen   February 26th, 2008 2:45 pm ET

Since there are currently on 2 people on the FEC and 6 are needed to function, the only people the DNC can blame for inaction against McCain are their own senators who are responsible for making FEC appointments.

Also, since McCain hasn't received any money from the FEC, why should he abide by their rules. This is just one more example of the failure of the Democrat-majority congress.

sigh   February 26th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

"And if anyone knows about illegal fund raising and shady campaign finances, it's the democrats!"

Really, just look at that whole Tom Delay, Jack Abromoff, Duke Cunningham etc. etc. etc. Democratic mess. Oooops.

Rhonda   February 26th, 2008 3:26 pm ET

Ron Paul has raised more money from active duty military members than ALL of the other candidates COMBINED. I think we need to listen to what the soldiers on the ground are saying because they are speaking with their wallets since they can't speak out any other way.

Mr. Fair and Balanced   February 26th, 2008 3:33 pm ET

This is ridiculous! Since when did we start expecting Republicans to play by the rules? I guess next we're going to expect them to care about the poor and the environment. Get real.

Jeff   February 26th, 2008 3:39 pm ET

We dont need another Bush Mccain is to Old and thinks like Bush!!!! If he wins I hope he picks a good VP thats who will end up President

Nick   February 26th, 2008 3:41 pm ET

Go Hilldog!!

Farrell, Houston, Tx   February 26th, 2008 3:45 pm ET

John McCain's age has a lot to do with his inability to respond precisely and quickly to these young agressive minds like Dean. Image what will happen between he and Obama when he doesn't have an advisor on stage with him in a debate.

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