McCain Scandal Opens Door for Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul

The press forgets sometimes that there are still two other candidates besides John McCain remaining in the Republican race for President:  former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and long time Texas Congressman Ron Paul.  Allegations that McCain had some type of relationship with a female lobbyists has lowered his odds somewhat of being the "lock" for the GOP nomination (though the oddsmakers aren't necessarily reflecting this).

The real concern is not so much whether the Arizona Senator was having a sexual relationship with Vicki Iseman - McCain flat out denies this.  Focus has now centered on why McCain was involved with a lobbyists - whether professionally or personally - in the first place.

Sen. John McCain said Friday that while lobbyists serve as close advisers to his presidential campaign, they are honorable and he is not influenced by corruption in the system.

McCain, who has styled himself as an enemy of special interests, defended having lobbyists working for his campaign. He is the expected Republican presidential nominee.

"These people have honorable records, and they're honorable people, and I'm proud to have them as part of my team," McCain told reporters following a town hall meeting in Indianapolis.

The issue of lobbying and influence has arisen in published reports, first in The New York Times and then in The Washington Post, suggesting that McCain had an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist and advanced the interests of her clients. McCain on Thursday emphatically denied the reports.

Siding with McCain, the White House accused the Times of repeatedly trying to "drop a bombshell" on Republican presidential nominees to undermine their candidacies.

White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel noted at a Friday morning briefing that the story has received a lot of attention.

"I think a lot of people here in this building, with experience in a couple campaigns, have grown accustomed to the fact that during the course of the campaign, seemingly on maybe a monthly basis leading up to the convention and maybe a weekly basis after that, The New York Times does try to drop a bombshell on the Republican nominee.

For his part, McCain refused to comment on the White House statements.

"I don't have any more comment about this issue. I had a press conference yesterday morning, and I answered every question," McCain said.

Ron Paul on Thursday told the LA Times he has reactivated his GOP campaign while trying to maintain his seat in Congress next month.

Mike Huckabee has vowed to stay in the race until McCain receives the required number of delegates to be officially nominated as the GOP. 

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Payton O'Brien, Gambling911.com Senior Editor (The Associated Press was also used in this report)

Originally published February 22, 2008 9:18 pm EST

 

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