McCain story rebounding on The New York Times
A day after The New York Times published its story about John McCain and his ties to a female lobbyist it looks like the story will do more damage to the Times’ reputation than McCain’s. The story does not—nor does it claim to—nail down anything about either the nature of their relationship or any importer favour that McCain is supposed to have done her. This raises questions about why the Times decided to run the piece: normally, the paper prides itself on its high-minded ethics. The revelations later in the day by The New Republic about the splits in the Times newsroom over the story only makes it more bizarre that they took such a risk in running it.
The pushback from the McCain campaign has been fast and effective. Crucially, McCain’s senior staff at the time this relationship was meant to be causing concern poured cold water on the story which raised questions about the story’s sourcing.
For McCain, there are two potential upsides to this episode. First, it has helped rally conservatives to him who had previously been sceptical on the my enemy’s enemy is my friend principle. Second, it has come out at the best time for McCain: after he wrapped up the GOP nomination but before the general election campaign is under way. There is even a chance that it has vaccinated McCain against future such attacks.
The danger for McCain is that if the Times concludes that its own reputation is on the line over this, it might feel obliged to try and advance the story. But at the moment it looks like the story is going to fade away.