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...and has hired DC power lawyer Bob Bennett to mount a bold defense against charges of giving special treatment to a lobbyist!

OK ... so we have to ask what positions McCain has staked out, would coincide with special treatment to lobbyists. I can think of only one, off the top of my head -- McCain has been virulently and publicly opposed to Boeing on a number of fronts. It's often seemed to be "beyond reasonable."

I can almost see LockMart or NorthrupGrumman prodding him to act that way....

More from Drudge:

Just weeks away from a possible surprise victory in the primaries, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz has been waging a ferocious behind the scenes battle with the NEW YORK TIMES, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, and has hired DC power lawyer Bob Bennett to mount a bold defense against charges of giving special treatment to a lobbyist!

McCain has personally pleaded with NY TIMES editor Bill Keller not to publish the high-impact report involving key telecom legislation before the Senate Commerce Committee, newsroom insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

The paper’s Jim Rutenberg has been leading the investigation and is described as beyond frustrated with McCain’s aggressive and angry efforts to stop any and all publication.

The drama involves a woman lobbyist who may have helped to write key telecom legislation.

The woman in question has retained counsel and strongly denies receiving any special treatment from McCain.

Rutenberg, along with reporter David Kirkpatrick, has been developing the story for the last 6 weeks.

Rutenberg had hoped to break the story before the Christmas holiday, sources reveal, but editor Keller expressed serious reservations about jounalism eithics and issuing a damaging story so close to an election.

McCain campaign officials Rick Davis, Charlie Black and Mark Salter are also said to have met with the NEW YORK TIMES in an effort to halt publication.

Developing...

I can think of only one, off the top of my head -- McCain has been virulently and publicly opposed to Boeing on a number of fronts.

If you're familiar with the Darlene Druyan debacle, you'll know that McCain's concerns with Boeing are--or were--well placed and justified.

McCain had a near-death (politically) experience in the Keating affair in the 1980s. Since then he's displayed an almost religious fervor against influence peddling or anything approacing it.

That's why this Drudge report is so odd.