WASHINGTON — Boston conservative radio host Jay Severin has repeatedly described Sen. John McCain as "a liberal," "a Democrat" and "no conservative." On a recent show, he said President Bush's defense of McCain's conservative credentials made him want to "barf."

But on his blog yesterday, Severin abandoned his differences with the Arizona Republican and defended McCain against the New York Times. "When the story is the smearing, the savaging of a national hero ... imagine what a horrible corruption of power, what arrogance, what Danger that represents."

The issue of lobbying and influence has arisen in published reports this week, first in The New York Times and then in The Washington Post, suggesting that McCain had an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist and advanced the interests of her clients. McCain on Thursday denied the reports.

After the Times published its article, many conservatives who had described the senator as a sellout, a turncoat or worse have suddenly found a reason to defend the soon-to-be leader of the Republican Party.

But the respite may be a short-lived reaction to McCain's troubles. The Times article aside, conservatives remain suspicious of McCain's commitment to social causes, angry about his leading role in campaign finance reform and unconvinced about his desire to limit illegal immigration.

The allegations in the Times article are a reminder that conservatives are barreling toward the general election fight with a candidate who has potential political vulnerabilities and who was not the first choice of many of them.

Todd Harris, who worked for McCain's 2000 campaign and is now a Republican strategist, said McCain's battle with the newspaper "does not make his issues with certain conservatives go away altogether." But he said many members of that community are "now looking for things to love about him."

Evidence of that may be in McCain's fundraising, which has picked up since the Times published the article. Sources inside the McCain campaign and at the Republican National Committee said they saw a substantial return on new e-mail solicitations, though neither would say how much has been raised.

But even as the money flowed in, McCain's lawyers were working to counter a warning from the Federal Election Commission chairman that the candidate has not yet been permitted to withdraw from the public financing system, as he had requested.

McCain counsel Trevor Potter has said that the warning is meaningless because the chairman has no authority to act right now. The six-member FEC board lacks a quorum because the Senate has deadlocked on confirming nominees for four open seats.

But election law experts said yesterday that the matter cannot be brushed aside. If the FEC seats are filled and the panel rejects McCain's arguments for leaving the system, he will face severe restrictions on primary spending.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.