Independent Ad Raises Rev. Wright

The National Republican Trust PAC goes where McCain has said he won't: Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The National Republican Trust was also behind a recent spot linking Obama's support for giving drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants to the 9/11 Terrorist attacks. The Secret Money Project's Will Evans looked into the group:

The PAC was formed last month by a former Defense Department strategist, a freelance journalist and a lawyer who have tried to prove a link between Saddam Hussein and the Sept. 11 attacks.

The National Republican Trust's executive director is Scott Wheeler, who has written for the conservative Cybercast News Service and Insight magazine, published by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. His articles include "Iraq-al-Qaida link revealed," "'Dirty-bomb' plot underway in U.S.?" and "Exclusive: Saddam Possessed WMD, Had Extensive Terror Ties."

Despite being a huge story during the primaries, Rev. Wright has only appeared in a scattering of general-election ads, all of them independently funded. McCain has argued against using the Wright footage, and urged the North Carolina GOP to discontinue airing a Wright ad back in April. But many in the McCain camp -- including his running-mate Sarah Palin -- think reviving the Wright storyline could help McCain close the deal. Evidently the National Republican Trust agrees.

-- Evie Stone

3:20 PM ET | 10-27-2008 | permalink

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