I'm pretty sure the source of the McCain story is the McCain camp.

[Occam Bandage]

I'm serious. This is going to get out one way or another; if two aides were each willing to independently talk to the NYT, that means it was going to come out some time or another. And this, frankly, is the best possible time for McCain for this story to break.

1. Any earlier, and McCain loses the primaries. As it stands, it's locked up.
2. The later it's leaked, the more relevant it is to November. This would have been a bombshell in October. As it stands, it'll be forgotten by April.

[jgraz]

1. Not a bad guess

Though I don't think it's going to be forgotten by the Huckabee Right.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. But what makes me wonder...

All journos on Countdown say this story has been floating around for months, since the fall at least...why now, exactly? Odd.

[XemaSab]

3. Interesting

There's a third point to consider:

There's something about the idea of him screwing around that could almost bring a positive energy to the camp and attract as many people as it repels. Hear me out: in the last couple weeks most of the comments here about him have been to the effect of "God, he's ANCIENT!" If he's still out screwing around, that's a mark of youthful vigor that he's sorely lacking.

I think he could have leaked this, yeah.

[ecstatic]

4. Or Huckabee?

:shrug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. I'd be the first person (and may well have been) to tease that it was the Huckster

But in all honesty, do you think he has that type of connections? I really doubt he has any pull, clout or insider dirt worth mentioning.

[TwilightGardener]

5. But this started 8 years ago, right? Who was on his campaign then--

I didn't read the story, so I don't know when the "activity" stopped.

[Hope Monger]

6. hmmm makes sense nt

[TheDebbieDee]

7. You might remember, in October, I think,

there was scuttlebutt that the Times was sitting on a scandalous story about one of the Senators running for President.

Somehow, everyone assumed it was the LA Times and everyone assumed it was a Democrat.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Yep, I made a thread about that.

[NJCher]

8. would also explain why the NY Times is the source

Too bad Judy Miller's still not around to write it up. Re-writes of WH press releases are her game, you know.



Cher

[Bryan]

9. I think you may be right

This doesn't seem to be a GOP inside job, because there's no immediate heir apparent. Why wait for McCain to build up a commanding delegate lead only to undercut him?

[ruggerson]

12. I actually think it elevates the sympathy factor for McCain

Americans hate this kind of shit. When it was rumored about Bush the 1rst, it boosted his numbers. And when it was actually proved about Clinton and he was then pilloried for it, his numbers went through the roof.

[PresidentObama]

13. Interesting theory. Waited till they pretty much got the nomination, leak it early to avoid damage.

Interesting. May be.

If so, don't expect the Christian Right to give him a free pass.

They don't like him that well as is. They'll go after him like they did with Bill Clinton.

And Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will ride a smooth ride to the White House.

A gay man can hope?

[JorgeTheGood]

14. Sounds about right ...

'sides ... a little sex scandal is a badge of honor in the GOP ...

look how they rallied around Foley for chasing 14 yr old boys through the halls of congress ... damn near made a hero of the guy ... same with Haggard and the rest of the GOP sex pervs ...

get it out and over with now ... not later ... smart thinking.

[NashVegas]

15. Obama Needs To Address That Lawsuit - Now

There won't be a better time.

[Renew Deal]

16. He's 200 delegates short and they can dump him at the convention.

Huckster might be able to win Texas.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. it could be from camp Huck

[Occam Bandage]

18. You'd think they'd have leaked it earlier.

[PresidentObama]

21. Unless they just now figured it out.....

Not sure who leaked it, but your theory in the OP makes sense.

[VenusRising]

19. Maybe they think it's a great story to make him look virile against a younger opponent. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

22. I considered that one too, but thought maybe that was a mite tinfoilish. Good to know I wasn't the

only one, though.

[VenusRising]

25. I don't put any kind of reasoning past the Republicans.

:hi:

[scheming daemons]

20. Not only that... it gives them license to drop a similar bomb on Obama or Clinton....

..

[grantcart]

23. very possible below is latest SD update

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4690456

[RummyTheDummy]

24. Interesting take but......

There's one voting block that will not forget it -- evangelical christians. I live in ground zero of this group and believe I'm qualified to predict how they might view this.

Some will forgive, but they will never forget. It will peel away some EC voters in November, a group he was already on shaking ground to begin with. They may stay home, they may leave that part of the ballot blank, but this will hurt him with enough voters to matter. And when this segment of the party isn't motivated, or worse yet, pissed off, the GOP suffers.

Taking it off the table might be a smart move, if that's what his campaign is doing. But it is not without its consequences.

[TexasObserver]

26. Good guess, and could be right. I'm thinking it's wingers who want to take him down now.

It's not too late for Mitt Romney to get the nod, especially if he got back in it, but McCain would have to step down "voluntarily."