John McCain's march to the Republican presidential nomination was sidetracked yesterday as he denied a romantic relationship with a female lobbyist and rejected a newspaper report that he improperly favoured her client's claims that hit hard at a man who has built much of his career on his integrity.

In the Democratic race, Barack Obama earned his 11th straight victory, winning the Democrats Abroad global primary in results announced yesterday. The victory, while not significant in terms of delegates, deals another blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton as her struggling campaign grasps for new momentum going into must-win races in Texas and Ohio on March 4.

The report in The New York Times comes as McCain is close to wrapping up the nomination and is making strides towards gaining the support of conservatives wary of his candidacy. The Times report is unlikely to derail his nomination, but it is an unwelcome distraction.