The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> IN WHOSE COMPANY? br> So what is the mysterious "Riverfront Media" firm that the campaign of Sen. John Kerry claims produced its anti-President Bush TV ads? /p>

In a surprising move -- at least for a media company -- a firm in Illinois, Riverfront Media, is denying that it had anything to do with the Kerry campaign's negative advertisements. On its website it posted this message:

"As far as we know, we are the only Riverfront Media in Illinois. We are going to try to get a retraction from his campaign since we have been getting phone calls and email pertaining to these ad's. Many people are associating us with the Democratic Party and it is hurting business. We work hard for all of our clients and artists and we do not need undeserving BAD publicity. We do not claim a political association with any party, and do not support (or even dislike) any candidate, but may have to seek legal action to get this MAJOR problem resolved."

People are combing through Kerry's financial reporting looking for interesting tidbits on how the campaign is spending its limited resources. Riverfront Media has been one such -- staggering -- expense, surpassing $6 million in total "media" and "advertisements" payments since last August 29. (Click here and here.) This from a campaign famous for being strapped.

Web bloggers have been posting the financial reports. Journalists such as Slate's Mickey Kaus have been challenging others to find such items as Bob Shrum's pay on the itemized expense list. No luck there, Mickey.

"It was a mistake. It was a different Riverfront Media in another state," says a Kerry campaign source. Which state? "I don't know."

While it's too early to be getting conspiratorial about the operations of the Kerry camp, lack of information about its media buys and producers is interesting. Could Kerry be employing as a media consultant someone the campaign would prefer not be made public?

p> EFFING HAM br> In his continued attempts -- thus far barely successful -- to play up his connections to

topics:
Business