developments

MCCAIN PRESSES FREE-TRADE ISSUE

Republican presidential candidate John McCain will take his free-trade message to Canada next week, reinforcing his stance on a divisive election issue. McCain, an avowed free-trader, is to speak to the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa on June 20. McCain has criticized his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, for saying he would renegotiate the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which is credited for record exports by Republicans but blamed for job losses by many Democrats. "You know what message that sends? That no agreement is sacred to him," McCain said.

TREASURER STOLE $725,000, GOP SAYS

House Republicans Thursday accused their former campaign treasurer of embezzling at least $725,000 in a scheme that federal investigators say involved using the money to cover major home renovations and mortgage payments and marked the biggest case of political fraud in a generation. A four-month audit of the National Republican Congressional Committee's books brings the total of Christopher Ward's alleged embezzlement to more than $810,000. The case has been referred to the FBI; its probe is ongoing. Ward, 39, allegedly used money to pay for renovations and mortgage bills for his home in Bethesda, Md.

RON PAUL QUITS BUT GOAL GETS BIGGER

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul ended his campaign Thursday night but said he will keep spreading his message by working to help elect libertarian-leaning Republicans to public offices. "The campaign is going to shift gears. To me, it's a technical change," he said.

NEWS SERVICES