Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his allies seized today on a vote cast last year by Republican John McCain against the sweeping water resources bill to question the Arizona senator's commitment to the restoration of the Florida Everglades.

The criticism from the Obama campaign came as the presumptive Republican nominee prepared to tour the Everglades today and pledge his support to the massive restoration project -- a vow that virtually all statewide candidates in Florida feel compelled to make.

But as McCain sought to restate his backing for the initiative, the Obama campaign questioned McCain's support by noting his vote against the $23 billion Water Resources Development, which included just over $2 billion for Everglades initiatives.

"The passage of this bill was absolutely critical to the Everglades because no project can even be eligible for federal funding unless it has been authorized," former Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) told reporters in a call organized by the Obama campaign. "The Everglades is a significant issue to many Floridians -- a determinative issue to how they will vote."

Additionally, the Obama camp seized on McCain's efforts yesterday to answer such criticisms, in which he compared the authorization bill with an omnibus spending bill.

Appearing at a convention of Florida journalists yesterday, McCain was asked about why he seemingly chose to vote against the Everglades restoration funding. He responded by saying he has a policy of voting against omnibus appropriations bills.

"If it's a stand-alone bill and it's authorized to fix the Everglades, I will be one of the first," McCain said. "I do not and will not and am proud not to have voted for omnibus spending bills for which in many cases there are no authorization nor is there hearings or scrutiny."

The Obama campaign today jumped on the statement, attempting to portray it as demonstrating McCain's lack of understanding of the issue and willingness to side with the Bush administration.

"When it's clear you don't even know what you're objecting to, it's simply unbelievable to claim that your objection was based on principle," Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan said. "John McCain has not only demonstrated his complete lack of understanding of the issue, but has also made clear that his support for President Bush's veto of critical funding for the Everglades had much more to do with partisan politics than principle."

Florida and its 27 electoral votes are widely seen as key to both parties' presidential aspirations. The latest state poll -- conducted about three weeks ago -- showed McCain with a 10 percent lead.

McCain camp responds

The McCain campaign quickly tried to defend itself, rolling out Florida Republicans who say they have no doubt about McCain's commitment to the restoration.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, whose congressional district includes a part of the Everglades, told reporters that McCain's vote against the water resources bill was not about the Everglades but was in opposition to the "pork barrel" spending in the bill.

"To just say that because he voted against a bill that was mostly other stuff -- $21 billion of other stuff," Diaz-Balart said. "To say that because he voted against it ... means that he's against Everglades restoration is just inaccurate and doesn't hold water."

Diaz-Balart and the rest of the Florida delegation voted in favor of the bill.

"I voted for it because, I admit it, I was being parochial," Diaz-Balart said. "Senator McCain, frankly, doesn't play that game. He does what he believes is best for the entirety of the nation.

"I represent this area and I went along with some of that pork barrel spending."

The McCain campaign also released a fact sheet pointing out that Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) -- an Obama campaign co-chairwoman -- also voted against the bill. The sheet also cited instances in which McCain cast votes in support of Everglades restoration.