McCain, Daschle to meet this weekend

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, will host incoming Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, and his wife Saturday at McCain's Arizona weekend home, but aides say the event should not be seen as part of recent speculation that Democrats might try to woo McCain away from the GOP.

Spokespersons for McCain and Daschle say the get-together was planned months ago, before Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont decided to leave the Republican Party and become an independent. It is expected to be a purely social gathering and nothing more should be read into it, the aides say.

"The senator invited the Daschles and (former White House Domestic Policy Adviser) Bruce Reed to come to the cabin five months ago. They accepted about one month ago," John Weaver, a political adviser to McCain, told CNN. "The senator uses his cabin in spring and summer to entertain. On the agenda -- ribs and hiking."

Weaver added that McCain "has no cause ... and no plans" to leave the Republican Party.

Asked if Daschle will talk to McCain about leaving the GOP Ranit Schmeltzer, Daschle's press secretary, told CNN, "I won't speculate about what they're going to talk about. ... Sen. Daschle is interested in talking to any Republican interested in becoming a Democrat."

McCain told CNN's Dana Bash last Friday that he was not going to switch to the Democratic Party. He also said he had no immediate plans to switch to being an independent. He said that even if he were to become an independent, he would not caucus with the Democrats because it would defeat the purpose of being an independent.

McCain aides say the senator always likes to invite an eclectic group of people to his weekend home.

"Bi-partisan friendships are not as rare in Washington as some would believe," said a statement released by McCain's office. "No one should read anything more into this. Senator McCain and Senator Daschle have known each other since 1983."

Daschle is on a Western swing that has also included a fund-raiser for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and events in Los Angeles and San Francisco.