Explosive NYT story on McCain Sex Scandal (Updated)

Wow. Sex scandal hits McCain. Just now, on the Times' site. Bad news for St. John.

Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.

A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, in his offices and aboard a client’s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.

Picture of her with W:



Update: McCain has issued a strong denial, but the NYT is standing by their story, claiming that it was indepedently corroborated. So far nothing on McCain's site. MSNBC pointing out that there isn't a denial of the relationship in McCain's rebuttal. Jay Severin calls it a "non-denial denial."

Update II: Howard Fineman, on Dan Abrams' show, explains why the Times sat on the story. My paraphrase: The New York Times started investigating last fall. McCain campaign got involved, asking the NYT what they were up to and what they were looking for. McCain spoke to Bill Keller...he denied any sexual involvement with Iseman. Bob Bennett, the famous DC lawyer, was brought in to argue with editors on McCain's behalf. The Times held the story under the pressure within last week another publication (New Republic) was working on new story about why NYT hadn't gone with the story. The Times went with story at that point.

Update III: McCain's statement tonight: "It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election."

"Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career."

He forgot to say, "I want you to listen to me. I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

Ya think the RNC is just glad it was a woman? /snark/