As the Republican candidate for president, John McCain has had to answer all kinds of questions on the campaign trail, ranging from his health and age to his policies on Iraq and the economy, dpa reported.
The 71-year-old senator from Arizona has always been ready with a response to counter the positions of Democratic rival Barack Obama. But he struggled in an interview with Politico when asked how many homes he and wife Cindy own.
"I think I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, New Mexico. "It's condominiums where I'll have them get to you."
Politico reports the correct answer is four, including a ranch in Arizona and other properties in California and Virginia. Newsweek has estimated the McCains own at least seven properties.
The Republicans have tried to portray Obama as an elitist, but the McCains are far wealthier than the Illinois senator who will accept the Democratic nomination August 28.
Most of the wealth comes from Cindy, who inherited her father's beer distribution company and is worth an estimated 100 million dollars, Politico says.