Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain has asked the Chabad-Lubavitch movement to support him in the November elections, according to SHMAIS.com Lubavitch-Chabad news service. In a conference call to 40 of Chabad's leading rabbis, the senator told them that he is the underdog in the race and that Chabad's support "would mean a great deal to me."

He pledged "never again" to another Holocaust and he reminded the rabbis of his vow to keep Israel secure.

However, Chabad is forbidden from officially endorsing a candidate because it is listed as a tax-exempt and non-profit organization.