by Evie Stone

The DNC and Obama campaign email machines are going to town this morning on the news, first reported by the AJC, that Ralph Reed is a member of the "McCain Victory 2008 Team" and that he sent out an invitation to a McCain fundraiser in Atlanta later this month. Reed is the former head of the Christian Coalition (and novelist!) whose bid to be lieutentant Governor of Georgia fell apart because of his ties to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But here's where it gets really weird: the Abramoff relationship came to light during a lobbying scandal investigation spearheaded by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which was then chaired by John McCain. And McCain often invokes his leadership in the Abramoff investigation as an example of his toughness on corruption and Washington cronyism. So...what the? Reed tells the WSJ that he is not "a host or a co-chair but rather a run-of-the-mill attendee" of the fundraiser, and that he is willing to let bygones be bygones with McCain. So far McCain hasn't clarified whether the feeling is mutual...but if so this revelation probably won't help his eroding maverick brand.

McCain was on NPR's Morning Edition today talking about the conflict in Georgia, about which, the NYT observes, he has taken a notably harder line than Obama, Bush, or most other world leaders. He also told host Renee Montagne that he's not "sending a negative message" with his campaign. Um. Are you sure?

 

In convention news, former VA Gov and current Senate candidate Mark Warner will keynote the Democratic Convention later this month. He'll be speaking Tuesday night, in the same slot Obama occupied in 2004. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, from the press release:

Like Barack Obama, Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving. It's that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when we will be discussing how to renew America's promise.

There had been some confusion over whether Hillary Clinton would be the keynoter, since she is also speaking Tuesday. The misunderstanding could well be interpreted as an insult by Clinton loyalists and stoke their desire for "catharsis" on the floor. (The potential for which, Maureen Dowd bitingly alleges in this morning NYT, has been increased by the actions of Senator Clinton herself.)

Another relevant question about the Warner announcement: does a Virginian on Tuesday preclude a Virginian on Wednesday's Veep Night?

Elsewhere, today in niche polling: a Christian research firm gives Obama a lead among 18 of 19 "faith segments" (everyone but evangelicals) and Obama outperforms John Kerry (but still lags behind McCain) among hunters and fishermen.

And finally, in "you've got to be kidding me, what is this, a men's locker room in 1962?" news, Limbaugh outdoes himself. We're on the edge of our seats anticipating Olbermann's response.