ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AFP) — John McCain's campaign threatened to sue a supermarket tabloid Thursday for printing the "vicious lie" that his vice presidential pick had cheated on her husband.
The National Enquirer is generally dismissed as poorly sourced gossip but has gained credibility in recent weeks after it broke the news of former Democratic hopeful John Edward's affair.
The story also comes days after the revelation that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant and plans to keep the baby and marry the father.
The campaign said it was forced to reveal the pregnancy in response to false reports on liberal blogs that Palin's four-month-old son was actually Bristol's child.
McCain senior advisor Steve Schmidt dismissed the allegations of Palin's affair with her husband's business partner as "categorically false."
"It is a vicious lie," Schmidt told CBS news.
"The smearing of the Palin family must end," Schmidt added. "The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it."
The Enquirer story was based entirely on unnamed sources and the tabloid is known for paying sources for information, something considered unethical by mainstream media outlets.
"Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin look forward to discussing the issues that Americans care about, fixing broken government, creating jobs, making our country energy independent and securing the peace for the next generation by bringing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a victorious end," said Schmidt.
"Legal action will be considered with regard to this disgraceful smear."
McCain will officially be crowned the Republican presidential nominee for the November 4 elections on Thursday evening.
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