2008-02-21 For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk

2008-02-21 \John McCain\2008 US presidential race http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk &ldquo;Early in Senator John McCainâ€™s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers. .. A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a clientâ€™s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself â€” instructing staff members to block the womanâ€™s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.&rdquo; And apparently this rumored affair, for which there is only circumstantial evidence, somehow undermines McCain's platform as being strong on ethical reform, which is greatly substantiated by his past actions.&rdquo;   