Following up on Bill Kristol's New York Times column yesterday, there are further reports in the New York Times and the New York Sun on the possibility of McCain 2000 guru Mike Murphy joining this year's campaign. Adam Nagourney reports in the Times:
Mr. McCain has told two friends in recent weeks that that he would like Mr. Murphy as his senior strategist, and before the most recent shake-up that put Mr. Schmidt in charge, Mr. Murphy told at least one associate that he was interested in coming back.
And Josh Gerstein writes in the Sun:
The talk of Mr. Murphy's imminent return to Mr. McCain's side was fueled yesterday by the lack of any denials from those said to be involved. The usually garrulous Mr. Murphy did not respond to telephone and e-mail messages seeking comment.
A spokesman for Mr. McCain's campaign, Tucker Bounds, also had little to say. "I have no announcement to make," he said in an e-mail message to The New York Sun.
