McCain: Reed a no-show at fundraiser
Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:14 AM by Mark Murray
"McCain raised more than $1.75 million for Republicans Monday at a fundraiser that became high profile after a political operative connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff promoted it. The event was promoted by Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition… Reed was not seen inside the hotel ballroom; a McCain campaign spokeswoman said he did not attend. But Democrat Barack Obama's rival presidential campaign sought to make him an issue, asking how much Reed-linked money was raised or would be kept by McCain's campaign.
Asked Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor: Will Senator McCain keep the money Reed has raised for him, and is Reed is a member of the McCain Victory 2008 team? If the McCain campaign won’t return the money Reed has raised for them, then voters should rightly ask why it matters that Reed didn’t show up at tonight’s event. The real question isn’t why Reed isn’t showing up, but why a so-called reformer would invite him at all,”
With McCain visiting an oil rig in New Orleans today, the DNC also has distributed an Exxon-McCain ’08 kit to reporters. Per the DNC, the kit includes “a limited edition Exxon-McCain ’08 stress ball in the shape of an oil drum (to help alleviate the stress of no longer getting access to the candidate) along with campaign buttons and bumper stickers.”
