McCain’s team put out a detailed document on the allegations in the New York Times involving his relationship with a female lobbyist in 2000. On the morning shows the team followed it up with a fairly convincing case that McCain repeatedly took actions that were adverse to the interests of the lobbyist. Of course, the “doing favors” part of the story isn’t what makes it really problematic for him. And so, at a press conference he staged early this morning, the sure-to-be Republican presidential candidate was calm and emphatic in his denials. He might even have responded more angrily, but then the new storyline would have been “Temper Resurfaces.” With Cindy McCain at his side, the full court media counteroffensive by the McCain team and the New York Times apparently unwilling engage on the record about its reporting, this may ultimately turn out to be at worst a wash, and maybe a net plus (on multiple levels), for McCain, who needed to juice up the base a bit.

UPDATE: Perhaps the definitive (at least the funniest) analysis of the New York Times story is here (as is sometimes the case with real Cliff Notes, it is better than the original tale) and examination of the conservative backlash is here.