Drudge, John Kerry, an Intern, and Reality

Matt Drudge thinks he has another Clinton-Lewinsky moment:

A frantic behind-the-scenes drama is unfolding around Sen. John Kerry and his quest to lockup the Democratic nomination for president, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

Intrigue surrounds a woman who recently fled the country, reportedly at the prodding of Kerry, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

A serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC NEWS, the WASHINGTON POST, THE HILL and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, where the woman in question once worked.

MORE

A close friend of the woman first approached a reporter late last year claiming fantastic stories -- stories that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head!

In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: "Kerry will implode over an intern issue." [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments.]

The Kerry commotion is why Howard Dean has turned increasingly aggressive against Kerry in recent days, and is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, top campaign sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

Developing...

Look, I'm all for making the character and personality an issue when electing a President. It matters. But that doesn't excuse people (whomever they may be) from the sheer sleaziness of leaking shit like this.

My prediction, based on incomplete, early, unconfirmed, and wildly announced information: this won't affect the politics of the Democratic nomination race much. Unless there is something deeper to the story (such as abuse of power, out-of-wedlock births, etc.), I doubt the Democrats aligned with Kerry will care. They care about getting Bush out and have made their political calculations to that fact. The base democratic vote is, roughly speaking, Anyone But Bush and if Kerry can weather this, I doubt more than 10% of his supporters will leave him.

Unless, of course, the arguement can be made that enough Republicans who have shifted to Kerry care enough about infidelity think this is newsworthy enough to switch camps again.

UPDATE(2/19/2004 1:02pm)
It seems both people have denied the relationship consistently.

Posted by Drizzten at February 12, 2004 05:36 PM