Obama Shows Rivals How to Throw a Wrench

As Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) tries dodging questions about the identity of her private donors, and Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) staff works furiously to draft his coming response to the question of public matching funds, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has thrown an Obamian wrench into the debate — Clinton and McCain need to start getting used to these — asking the Federal Election Commission if he can collect private funds now but return them if he became the nominee and his GOP counterpart accepts his challenge to revert back to using public funding.

A spokesman for McCain, who as champion of campaign finance reform will be painted as the worst hypocrite should he forego federal funds, said of Obama's idea, "Is he asking for the option of whatever is the highest number?" A spokesman for former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who won't take public funds either, said "that sounds a little optimistic to us," and "there are a lot of ifs there." A spokesman for Clinton wisely declined comment.

Obama's earnestness is clearly already annoying his fellow candidates. Is he actually going to court the best bundlers, work them hard and then return the money? Does he think anyone else will? Doesn't matter, does it? It sure makes a good talking point about preserving the system; FEC commissioner Michael Toner said Obama "raises very novel issues." For now it gives everyone pause and it gives him the spotlight again just before Clinton steps on his official announcement this weekend in Illinois by taking her rescheduled visit to New Hampshire. Obama has helped to make sure the bundler questions follow her up North.

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