Just speculating here, but Ashley,as a lobbyist for Progress Energy, would have been in a unique position to be the go between between Progress Energy and the administration being that her husband is Obama’s main point man on Congressional bills(the energy bill included). Any money changing hands or back room deals would have been facilitated between her husband, herself and Obama. Lots of intrigue here if you ask me.
Ah, so who would be sending a message to whom? Intrigue, yes.