HOMER CITY, Pa. -- A lobbyist who The New York Times suggested had an inappropriate relationship with Republican presidential candidate John McCain is from Indiana County, Pa.

Vicki Iseman graduated from Homer City's Homer-Center High School in 1985 and went on to get a degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Now, she's a partner with Virginia-based Alcalde & Fay.

The 71-year-old McCain denies a romantic relationship with the 40-year-old Iseman and said Thursday's report by the Times suggesting favoritism for her clients is "not true."

In high school, Iseman was a cheerleader and a member of the student council. She returned two years ago as the keynote speaker for Homer-Center's commencement.

From there, she went to Sanso's Market for pizza with her sisters, her brother and her mother, all of whom still live in Indiana County.

"They (Iseman's sisters) come in the pizza shop on a Friday night on almost a weekly basis. They are very nice people," Forrest Harris, of Sanso's Market, said on Thursday. "I think it will blow over."

People who know Iseman back home said she is a good person who worked her way up from a small town to big-time politics.

Locals called her a hometown girl who made good, and said they're not happy with the recent attention she has gotten.

"The news media can destroy a person's life. I've seen it too many times," said family friend Pat Trausi.

They believe her relationship with McCain was a professional one, and they think she's a victim of election-year politics.

"This news media, they jumped to too many conclusions too fast," said Harris.

Attempts to contact one of Iseman's sisters were unsuccessful on Thursday. A person who answered the phone declined to comment.

As a lobbyist, Iseman's clients have included mostly broadcasting companies and education institutions. The Center for Responsive Politics said two of her clients included IUP -- for $40,000 -- and Homer-Center School District -- $20,000 -- for lobbying done in the Capitol.

An IUP Magazine article from 2002 includes a picture of Iseman with President George W. Bush. The story labels her as one of her firm's youngest people, but also one of its most senior partners.

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