Washington, D.C. ? Sen. Sam Brownback said Thursday that his endorsement of John McCain for president had nothing to do with getting new donors to help pay off debt from his failed presidential campaign.

Brownback, the Kansas Republican who ended his White House bid after struggling to raise money, said he chose to back McCain “because I thought he was the best person to run for president.”

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that some of McCain’s biggest donors gave Brownback nearly $40,000 after Brownback decided to support the Arizona senator on Nov. 7.

Brownback told reporters on a conference call that his campaign did solicit money from McCain supporters, but claims that was never a quid pro quo for his endorsement. “It was not that they are to do this or anything for me,” Brownback said.