"Odd. What would the kid be doing that is illegal? This smells."
You're right. The last thing a 17 year old is worried about is doing something illegal. Besides the minor would be guilty of nothing...very stinky indeed.
The kid is working on Istook's campaign with a title of Executive Campaign Manager of something like that - see PhiKapMom and all her posts on this man.
Came to the Istook campaign through the San Diego-based Campaign Manager (a transplant).
IMs sound like they are from someone older and more educated. Say, a future Campaign Manager from San Diego?
I'm jus' sayin'.