TOLEDO, Feb 21: Republican presidential front-runner John McCain on Thursday dismissed as “untrue” a New York Times report suggesting he had a close and possibly romantic relationship with a female lobbyist nine years ago in conflict with his high ethical stances.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed in the article. It’s not true,” the four-term Arizona senator told a news conference with his wife Cindy by his side.

“At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interest and would favour any one or any organisation,” Mr McCain said.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that McCain had a close relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, saying that early in McCain’s failed bid for the 2000 presidential election, members of his campaign had grown concerned the relationship might harm the campaign.

“Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity,” the Times story said.

At the news conference, McCain described Iseman as a “friend” whom he has seen on various occasions in Washington including fund-raisers and receptions and denied having a romantic relationship with her.

“I have many friends in Washington that represent various interests,” he said. “I consider her a friend.”

He said he last saw her several months ago at “some event.”

“People who represent interests are fine, that’s their constitutional right. The question is whether do they have excess or unwarranted influence. Certainly no one ever has in the conduct of my public life and in conduct of my legislative agenda,” he said.

The Times cited instances where it said McCain had appeared to undermine his own demands for high ethical behaviour from members of Congress. The Washington Post quoted a veteran McCain aide John Weaver, who no longer works for the campaign, as saying he had urged Iseman to stay away from McCain.

McCain said he did not know of any meeting between Weaver and Iseman.

McCain, a decorated prisoner of war during the Vietnam war, has long promoted high ethical standards among lawmakers and has written legislation to limit the influence of money in politics.

He is the all-but-certain Republican nominee to face Democrats in the Nov. 4 presidential election to succeed President George W. Bush. McCain, 71, would be the oldest person to ever win a first presidential term.—Reuters