McCain's Place on Ballot Challenged

ALBANY, N.Y. — Sen. John McCain doesn't have enough support in more than half of New York's 31 congressional districts to qualify for the March 7 presidential primary ballot, supporters of Texas Gov. George W. Bush charged Tuesday.

Jeffrey Buley, a lawyer working at the direction of state GOP Chairman William Powers, challenged McCain's presidential petitions in 17 of the state's 31 congressional districts. The challenges claim that McCain (R-Ariz.) failed to obtain the required number of signatures from those districts.

Should the challenges be upheld by the state Board of Elections next week, and later by state courts, McCain could be without convention delegate slates in more than half of the state.

"I am a credible candidate," McCain said Tuesday from New Hampshire. "Everyone knows that I have a right to be on the ballot in New York."

Buley retorted: "The facts will speak for themselves."

The McCain camp says it will fight the challenges.