It sounds like John is trying to indemnify himself against reactions - not like the Marcotte affair, since he hasn't left a trail of outrageously offensive posts throughout his blogging career, but more like Patrick Hynes, who signed on with McCain but finds himself regularly excoriated over the connection whenever he posts on his personal blog, and by his conservative fan base.

Pat also failed to get out in front of the critics. He didn't announce the deal with McCain at first, allowing the news to come out from the campaign instead. He took a huge hit over that, one which Hawkins is avoiding with this.

Still, it is very difficult to balance blogging as your "own person" when employed by any campaign, no matter what preconditions are set. Readers will naturally begin to consider every post, even those which don't mention candidates but deal with potential campaign issues, in the light of the association.

Ann Althouse pointed out recently that to be an "official campaign blogger" means you HAVE to be boring. You can't post your outrageous insights, or even slightly offensive humor. You can't criticize the candidate or his positions, or link to those who do unless you are defending "your guy."

You have to post what the campaign wants posted, and avoid independent thinking and posting at all costs.

Campaigns don't really need or want the best bloggers. They want someone who can post their press releases online, and monitor the internet for problems so they can get a "quick response" activated. It's a clerical position for someone with modest tech skills and a modicum of experience in dealing with the press on the internet.

From John's post.

** While I was hired to work specifically on the Duncan Hunter campaign, I want to emphasize that I was recruited and hired as an independent contractor by TCV Media, not by the Hunter campaign. Additionally, I am not a blogger or public spokesperson for the Hunter campaign.

He's a promoter, not a publicist. If you're wondering what that means:

In fact, after I interviewed Hunter back in December, I liked him so much that I actually offered to set up some interviews for him with bloggers to help get his name out there. In the end, none of them actually came off and ironically, I am now getting paid, in part at least, to do exactly the same thing.

And he has made no bones about his support for Hunter before joining the campaign as a consultant. In this capacity, he's simply a bit more proactive.

The link to the Hunter campaign site is 404'ed. Try http://gohunter08.com/ instead.

Okay, so apparently Hunter's website is configured to be very picky. It'd be to his advantage to get some auto re-directs in there.

Try this... http://www.gohunter08.com/

Jeez.