McCain backs effort banning affirmative action

John McCain says he supports a proposed ballot initiative in his home state of Arizona that would prohibit affirmative action policies from state and local governments.

McCain told ABC's This Week he agrees with the concept of the measure.

"I do not believe in quotas, but I have not seen the details of some these proposals."

A decade ago, he called a similar effort "divisive."

Over the years, McCain has consistently voiced his opposition to hiring quotas based on race. But he has supported affirmative action in limited cases.

McCain blasted his Democratic opponent Barack Obama over his canceling a visit with wounded U.S. troops, recovering in Germany, while on his overseas tour.

Obama aides say the Pentagon was worried the visit was too political.

McCain said that he would have made the trip anyway. "If I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn't visit those troops and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you there would have been a seismic event."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.