John McCain's campaign says Barack Obama's campaign has been spreading "smears" about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's past political affiliations.
At issue are claims by members of the Alaskan Independence Party
that Palin was once associated with it. The party wants to place
all federal lands in Alaska under state control.
The McCain campaign released voter registration documents dating
to 1990 in which Palin lists herself as a Republican. A campaign
spokesman says Palin has never been a member of the Alaskan
Independence Party.
Obama advisers and surrogates have also linked Palin to
conservative former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan.
The McCain campaign says Palin supported Steve Forbes' campaign
at the time.
While Obama advisers and surrogates have drawn attention to
Palin's political associations, the campaign has strictly avoided
any comment on issues related to Palin's family, specifically her
17-year-old daughter's pregnancy.