« Previous | Home | Next »

McCain Camp Relieved by Its Reaction to Accusations

ABC News

In less than 24 hours the McCain campaign traveled the long distance from anger and anxiety to calm and confidence. It went from desperate defense to aggressive offense.

In the assessment of McCain communication director Jill Hazelbaker, The New York Times story suggesting that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had an "improper relationship" with a female lobbyist in 1999 was its first major crisis and she felt it had met the challenge.

Interviews with four McCain senior advisers paint a picture of a staff stunned by the news that the Times article would appear Wednesday night. The McCain campaign has known for months that the Times was preparing such a story, but its publication had been delayed. Several staffers said they had been lulled by the absence of recent inquiries from the newspaper or from other journalists into believing that it would not run.

Posted by Editor at February 23, 2008 03:58 PM

« Previous | Home | Next »