McCain Adviser Schmidt Rips New York Times

by Josh Gerstein
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 at 12:20 PM

During a conference call for reporters just now, a top adviser to Senator McCain's campaign, Steven Schmidt ripped into the New York Times, accusing it of flagrant bias in its coverage of the presidential race.

"Whatever the New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization," Mr. Schmidt said. "It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day attacks the McCain campaign, attacks Senator Palin�and [is] excusing Senator Obama� �This is an organization that is completely totally 150% in the tank for the Democratic candidate which is their prerogative�It is an organization which has cast aside its journalistic tradition."

We'll seek comment from the Times as soon as the call concludes.