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On the Prowl

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A version of the McCain story was eventually published by the Washington Post in mid-September. The story was peddled by a Democratic political operative paid by the Obama campaign, according to the CNN producer, who says that while none of the primary materials were shown to him, he was told he’d receive “enough information and guidance” to make the story what the consultant called “explosive.”

The “explosive” nature of the story, according to the reporter, was the Obama’s campaign attempt to link Sen. John McCain to his wife’s problems.

"The guy kept trying to sell me on the idea that if we dug enough, we might find that Senator McCain had been using too,” says the producer. “It was obvious to me they wanted this to become a hit on Senator McCain. Cindy McCain was just the starting-off point.”

The producer says, “I didn’t touch it, and I know the Obama camp had difficulties finding a taker,” adding that he never spoke to his bosses about the information, in part out of concern that a higher-up might have been willing to run the story. “There are some anchors and senior news people who I think believe it is in their interest to help Obama. We are no better than MSNBC in that regard, though not as blatant about it.”

Political consultants paid by the Obama campaign also attempted to shop opposition research on the McCains’ adoptive daughter, Cindy McCain’s finances and family-owned business, and John McCain’s role in the “Keating Five” scandal, as well as information on Sarah Palin’s family. The same political consultant who pitched the McCain drug story likewise pushed a story that Palin was charging victims of rape for the rape kits used to detect the crimes and potentially convict those who committed the crimes. Even though that story had been debunked, the Boston Globe reported it as fact days before the vice-presidential debate.

Although Obama’s campaign has accused other campaigns of playing dirty and going negative, it more than any other has sought— and gained—the cooperation of reporters to attack his opponents.

According to a former Hillary Clinton political adviser, her campaign estimated that more than 50 percent of the negative and so-called “investigative” pieces about her came from Obama opposition sourcing.

“They are smart,” says the former Clinton hand about the Obama campaign. “They only provide memos and little material unless the reporter asks for files he can’t get on his own. They have the backup stuff, but won’t go that far. But the memos have enough info to make the reporting easy. I’ve seen some of them and there are lots of breadcrumbs.”

The Clinton consultant says that word among Democratic sources is that the same team that spent weeks on McCain research also wrapped up its work on Palin. “Reporters up there digging in Alaska were seeing the Obama people pulling the same stuff they were looking for, so it’s not going to be clear whether the dirt is coming from Obama or real reporting.” But for the Obama campaign, either outcome works just fine.

Obama’s Rummy

Retiring Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel has told friends that he would happily serve in the administration of Sen. Barack Obama, were he asked. Hagel has indicated to Obama staffers that he would be open to serving as defense secretary.

Hagel was the most prominent Republican to back Obama over his longtime friend John McCain. In fact, Hagel traveled with Obama during his Mideast tour earlier this year.

Softball

MSNBC talking head Chris Matthews is privately talking to longtime friends about the possibility of challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. Matthews, who was born in Philadelphia, has also spoken to Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell about possibly making a run, according to a longtime Rendell fundraiser in Philadelphia. Matthews does have political experience beyond his TV yap; he worked for former Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill.