What "rumor and gossip" have the McCain campaign so upset?

From Editor and Publisher, we learn that the McCain campaign is fighting hard to stop a potential NY Times article about McCain and "some sort of improper activities involving a lobbyist."

The McCain campaign is fighting so hard, that that they've issued a statement to E&P reading "It is unfortunate that rumor and gossip enter into political campaigns." Hmmm. Interesting choice of words. John and I were just talking about this -- and when we hear the McCain campaign's outrage over "rumor and gossip" it sure sounds like more than improper influence peddling -- or is that just us?

This popped up on the DrudgeReport, so basically McCain, who may or may not be making a comeback, is now pushing the issue into the traditional media, as E&P notes in its article. Check it out after the break.
Calls to several staffers at the Times by E&P have not been returned yet, but, oddly, the McCain campaign has responded in a rather oddly worded statement on the purported Times probe. Drudge headlines the story: "McCain Pleads with NYT to Spike Story."

The McCain response was emailed to E&P from Arlington, Va., and it comes from McCain's Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker:

"It is unfortunate that rumor and gossip enter into political campaigns. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving this country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the important issues facing our country.

"Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics. John McCain is the most experienced and prepared to lead as commander and chief, and he will continue to run a positive campaign on the issues."

Drudge also suggests that McCain "has hired DC power lawyer Bob Bennett to mount a bold defense against charges of giving special treatment to a lobbyist!" Now the story has gone "mainstream," with full reports by The Associated Press and Howard Kurtz in The Washington Post. Here are excerpts from those two reports.