Frank Keating Raises Obama's Past Drug Use

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating calls Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama "a guy on the street" and says he should be more candid about his drug use as a teenager.

Keating is a co-chairman of Republican John McCain's presidential campaign and made the comments on comedian Dennis Miller's radio show Friday.

In his memoir "Dreams From My Father" Obama described experimenting with alcohol and drugs as a teenager, including marijuana and cocaine when he could afford it.

McCain aides say Keating had not been asked to bring up Obama's past drug use and that he hadn't cleared his comments with the campaign.

In recent days McCain and many of his top surrogates began publicly questioning whether voters know enough about Obama.