Here's where the NYTimes story gets messy for McCain

There was alot of discussion about the "romantic" angle alleged between McCain and the lobbyist in the NYTimes atyicle yesterday, but it's the lobbying side of the story that's more likely to have legs. It may serve as a starting point for all sorts of questions regarding McCain.

Although the NYTimes appears to have been cowed into silence, take a look at the WaPo frontpage followup today,

The Anti-Lobbyist, Advised by Lobbyists

For years, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has railed against lobbyists and the influence of "special interests" in Washington, touting on his campaign Web site his fight against "the 'revolving door' by which lawmakers and other influential officials leave their posts and become lobbyists for the special interests they have aided."

But when McCain huddled with his closest advisers at his rustic Arizona cabin last weekend to map out his presidential campaign, virtually every one was part of the Washington lobbying culture he has long decried.....

I would also argue that McCain's shenanigans with public financing and the FEC will contribute to that impression. (This could be messy for him. He may just break the rules and pay the fine in 2009.)

We'll have to wait and see, but when a candidate claims a top attribute of lobbying purity, you gotta figure the press will try to puncture that. (Pay attention Barack Obama.)