WASHINGTON  Republican front-runner John McCain accused Barack Obama on Wednesday of waffling on a pledge to accept public financing for the fall presidential campaign. McCain says he will accept public money in the fall and stick to spending limits if his Democratic opponent does the same. Obama agreed to do so last fall if he became the Democratic nominee, in response to a questionnaire from the Midwest Democracy Network, a non-partisan civic group. Obama proposed in a column published Wednesday on USA TODAY's opinion page that McCain agree to refuse fundraising help from outside groups, that they limit the spending by their own parties and that McCain agree to spending limits "while the Democratic primary contest continues." "The campaign-finance laws are complex and filled with loopholes that can render meaningless any agreement that is not solidly constructed," Obama wrote. McCain, speaking in Ohio, said the Illinois senator is engaging in "doublespeak." McCain, a senator from Arizona, wrote the 2002 law restricting campaign spending. He said he and Obama both made the same pledge and it is "not any more complicated than that." "I think the American people would expect him to hold that commitment, especially if we want to bring about change," he said, using one of Obama's campaign themes. McCain said he'd re-evaluate his pledge if Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton did not make the same commitment. Obama spokesman Bill Burton noted McCain did not take public money or adhere to any spending limits for the primaries, despite the senator's role in shaping campaign-finance law. "John McCain is in no place to question anyone on pledges," Burton said. Clinton has not agreed to accept public money if she becomes the Democratic nominee, and her campaign has criticized Obama for not reaffirming his pledge. If candidates accept public financing, they would receive about $84.1 million after their nominating convention, according to Bob Biersack of the Federal Election Commission. McCain and Obama dueled as campaign-finance reports for January were filed with the FEC on Wednesday. McCain reported raising about $11.7 million in donations last month. He began January as an underdog in the Republican primaries but ended last month with victories in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. McCain took out about $1 million in loans to pay for TV commercials, on top of about $3.9 million in loans from last year, his report said. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who trails far behind McCain in GOP delegates, reported raising about $4 million and spending about $5 million in January. Obama's report showed he raised $36 million last month. He finished the month with $25 million cash on hand, but $7 million is specifically for the general election. Clinton raised nearly $14 million last month, according to her report, including about $1 million for the general election. Counting her debts, including $5 million she lent her campaign, Clinton ended January with about $1.5 million. The Obama and Clinton campaigns spent about $1 million a day — $28.5 million for the month by Clinton, $30.5 million for Obama. Among candidates who have ended their campaigns, Republican Rudy Giuliani reported spending about $7 million last month. The former New York City mayor ended his bid after finishing third in Florida. He raised $3 million last month, according to his report. Contributing: The Associated Press Enlarge By staff, AFP/Getty Images Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, left, and Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona, right. McCain has accused Obama of waffling. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.