JERSEY CITY, N.J.  -  Republican John McCain on Friday disputed blogger Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against President Bush in 2000.

In a report, Huffington insisted she heard McCain say, at a Los Angeles dinner party after the 2000 election, he had not voted for Bush.

Two other guests at the party, former ``West Wing'' actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, said they heard McCain say the same thing; they were asked by Huffington to speak Thursday to The New York Times and The Washington Post.

McCain's campaign said Thursday she was making up the story to promote a book, and McCain disputed the story.

``I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush's election in 2000 and 2004,'' McCain told reporters. ``I voted for President Bush, I said so at the time. I know we're already in silly season, but my record stands very clearly of campaigning all over this nation on behalf of the candidacy of President Bush.

``It's nonsense,'' he said.

McCain, now the likely GOP nominee, lost a bitter presidential primary race in 2000 to Bush.

(AP)