North Carolina's Republican Party has withdrawn an advertisement critical of Democrat Barack Obama's links to a controversial preacher, according to Republican John McCain's campaign.
Senator McCain's senior adviser Charlie Black said he had been informed by the Republican National Committee's representative in North Carolina, that the state party had agreed to withdraw the ad.
Mr McCain, the Republicans' presumptive presidential nominee, had appealed to the state party to withdraw the ad, saying he wanted to run a respectful campaign.
Barack Obama has come under fire for attending a Chicago church for two decades where the Rev Jeremiah Wright was pastor.
Rev Wright has drawn criticism for statements including saying the US government spread the AIDS virus to black Americans.
He has since retired.
The 30-second ad in question attacked Democratic North Carolina gubernatorial candidates Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore for their endorsements of Barack Obama, referring to the Illinois senator's judgment in supporting Rev Wright and calling him too extreme for North Carolina.
North Carolina is one of two states holding the next crucial Democratic primaries on 6 May in the tight race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to oppose John McCain in the November presidential election.
