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Palin Story Sparks Catfight in McCain Crew

Senior campaign hands publicly bicker, with assist from Kristol

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – Senior McCain hands are wringing their dirty laundry in the public square thanks to Vanity Fair’s vicious piece on Sarah Palin, Politico reports. When William Kristol publicly accused chief strategist Steve Schmidt of being the story’s source, Schmidt fired back that it was “categorically untrue.” He tells Politico that Kristol has a vendetta against him because he tried to fire longtime McCain adviser—and Kristol buddy—Randy Scheunemann.

Schmidt confirmed the rumor that he’d searched Scheunemann’s email, and found him leaking details of campaign infighting to Kristol. Scheunemann accused Schmidt of acting like the “Iranian secret police” by searching his mail. “Steve Schmidt has a congenital aversion to the truth,” he says. In his telling, Schmidt not only speculated that Palin had post-partum depression, he threatened to leak it to the press. “It was like meeting Tony Soprano.”

Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard on NBC's 'Meet the Press' September 3, 2000 in Washington, DC.
Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard on NBC's 'Meet the Press' September 3, 2000 in Washington, DC.   (Getty Images)
Sarah Palin, sits in her vehicle with Steve Schmidt, chief strategist for the McCain campaign, after arriving in Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention.
Sarah Palin, sits in her vehicle with Steve Schmidt, chief strategist for the McCain campaign, after arriving in Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
In this Jan. 22, 2009 file photo, Sarah Palin gives the state of the state address to a joint session of the Senate and House in the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska.
In this Jan. 22, 2009 file photo, Sarah Palin gives the state of the state address to a joint session of the Senate and House in the Capitol in Juneau, Alaska.   (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
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When the going got tough, Steve Schmidt trashed Sarah Palin, both within the campaign and
(on background) to journalists. - William Kristol

I'm sure John McCain would be president today if only Bill Kristol had been in charge of the campaign. His management of Dan Quayle’s public image as his chief of staff is still something that takes your breath away. - Steve Schmidt

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
NxBigmouthery
Jul 1, 2009 9:54 AM CDT
The longer Palin stays in the post-election spotlight, the harder it will be for her in 2012. Of course, she doesn't seem to think so, nor do her apologists...but that's the essential problem with a party that refuses to evaluate itself after a loss: all perspective disappears.
drlarrymitchell
Jul 1, 2009 9:25 AM CDT
The world is playing computer chess, and the Republicans are still trying in vain to tape firecrackers onto checkers.
Newser001
Jul 1, 2009 8:49 AM CDT
When it comes to the President, VP or any other official in critical capacity, it is of consequence, Laura - I've seen it, first hand; confusion, instability.

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